EU Set to Flag AWS, Azure for DMA Scrutiny as Cloud Probe Advances Next Week
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 18
EU Set to Flag AWS, Azure for DMA Scrutiny as Cloud Probe Advances Next Week
3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jun 18
Summary
Preliminary findings due as early as next week are set to say Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure appear to meet the threshold for scrutiny under the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
An initial European Commission probe into their power over the cloud market led officials toward that view, putting both providers on a collision course with the bloc’s digital competition rulebook.
The move would extend the EU’s toughest ex-ante antitrust framework into cloud infrastructure, broadening DMA pressure beyond the consumer internet platforms already in regulators’ sights.
Will the EU's crackdown on US cloud giants help its own tech sector or just hinder its AI ambitions?
Why is the UK accepting voluntary promises while the EU prepares for a regulatory showdown over the cloud market?
EU’s 2025-2026 DMA Cloud Investigations: How AWS and Azure Face Landmark Scrutiny and What It Means for Europe’s Digital Future
Overview
In November 2025, the European Commission launched investigations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) into Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, the two largest global cloud providers. These probes aim to assess whether these companies should be designated as 'gatekeepers,' which would require them to follow strict rules to ensure fair competition in the cloud sector. While AWS has expressed concerns that such rules could stifle innovation or raise costs for European businesses, the Commission is focused on preventing market distortions and promoting a level playing field. The outcome could reshape the future of cloud services in Europe.