The European Commission has initiated three separate inquiries into the cloud computing sector under the framework of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), placing Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure under scrutiny.
Two of the probes will examine whether Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) should be formally designated as gatekeepers for their cloud services— a label that would subject them to stricter regulatory obligations.
A third, wider investigation will evaluate whether the DMA’s existing tools are sufficient to tackle behaviors that could restrict competition or create unfair conditions in the EU cloud market.
Regulators expect to complete their assessment of Amazon and Microsoft within 12 months, while the broader review of how the DMA applies to cloud computing is scheduled to conclude within 18 months.
The move marks the Commission’s latest step in enforcing the Digital Markets Act, part of an ongoing effort to curb the influence of dominant technology companies and ensure a more competitive digital environment across the European Union.