EU says AWS and Microsoft Azure should be treated as DMA gatekeepers

Under the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a company is deemed a gatekeeper when it satisfies specific quantitative thresholds. Nevertheless, the Commission retains the authority to investigate and label a firm as such even if it falls short of those metrics, provided the service exerts a significant impact on the market.

The Commission commenced its probe into Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure on 18 November 2025 to address alleged unfair or anti‑competitive practices in the cloud sector. Today, it formally notified Amazon and Microsoft that its preliminary assessment concludes their cloud platforms should be designated as gatekeepers under the DMA.

The Commission highlighted that AWS and Azure occupy the top two positions in the EU cloud market, serving as pivotal bridges between businesses and their customers across the region.

It further noted that both platforms have achieved substantial revenues, cultivated large and entrenched user bases, and benefit from high switching costs and customer lock‑in. Their operational scale and investment outpace those of competitors, reinforcing their dominant positions.

Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice‑President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, weighed in on the decision.

Across Europe, dependence on cloud computing is deepening—from everyday consumers to small and large enterprises, and even public administrations. The importance of these services will only grow, making it essential to maintain a healthy, competitive market and a level playing field for all providers. This will guarantee access to secure, sustainable, and interoperable cloud solutions throughout the continent. Today, we preliminarily determine that Amazon’s AWS and Microsoft’s Azure should be classified as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act. Respecting their rights to defend themselves and the rule of law, Amazon and Microsoft are now invited to respond before any final decision is taken.

These findings are provisional and do not bind the final outcome. Amazon and Microsoft can review the preliminary conclusions and submit their responses to the Commission. Should the Commission confirm these initial findings, it will formally designate AWS and Azure as gatekeepers. Once designated, both companies will have a six‑month window to align their cloud services with the DMA’s regulations.