Brussels eyes AWS, Azure for gatekeeper tag in cloud clampdown

Steven

Brussels eyes AWS, Azure for gatekeeper tag in cloud clampdown

Summary

The European Commission has opened investigations into Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure to determine whether their cloud services should be designated as “gatekeepers” under the 2022 Digital Markets Act (DMA). The probe will assess whether the two hyperscalers act as vital gateways between businesses and customers despite not automatically meeting DMA quantitative thresholds.

If designated, AWS and Azure would face DMA obligations such as enabling third-party interoperability, giving users access to platform-generated data, and avoiding self‑preferencing in rankings — with non‑compliance fines reaching up to 10% of worldwide turnover. The EC is also running a separate inquiry into cloud market practices more broadly to see if the DMA effectively addresses behaviours that could limit competition and fairness.

Key Points

  • The European Commission is investigating whether AWS and Azure qualify as DMA “gatekeepers” for cloud services.
  • Gatekeeper status would impose obligations: interoperability, data access, and bans on self‑preferencing.
  • Failure to comply with DMA obligations could trigger fines of up to 10% of global turnover.
  • The probe includes a broader market inquiry into cloud behaviours that may harm competition and fairness.
  • EU tech sovereignty and the role of cloud in AI development are cited as motivations for scrutiny.
  • UK and US regulators (CMA, FTC) have separately examined cloud market concentration; the move has geopolitical and trade-friction overtones.

Context and relevance

This matters because hyperscale cloud providers underpin vast swathes of digital services, AI development and business infrastructure. A gatekeeper designation would reshape vendor obligations across Europe, potentially forcing greater interoperability and data portability and altering how cloud vendors prioritise their own services.

For cloud customers, the investigation could lead to new rights (for example, improved access to data and services) and may affect pricing, procurement and vendor lock‑in strategies. For vendors, it raises compliance, technical and commercial implications as the DMA’s application to cloud services is tested.

Why should I read this?

Short version: if you care about cloud costs, vendor lock‑in, AI projects or European digital sovereignty, this could change your supplier playbook. The Commission poking at AWS and Azure means potential new rules for how clouds must play with others — and that can hit your contracts, integration plans and budgets. Worth a quick scan so you’re not blindsided.

Author style

Punchy — this is flagged as important. The EC action could be a big deal for cloud governance and competition; if you work in procurement, cloud architecture or policy, the full details are worth a read rather than just skimming the headlines.

Source

Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/11/18/amazon_microsoft_cloud_dma/