TLDR
- Bloomberg reports Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure are expected to be designated under the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
- The European Commission’s final decision could come as soon as November 2026.
- A designation would require new interoperability rules and limits on customer lock-in and self-preferencing.
- Companies would have six months to comply once designated.
- The European Commission says no final decision has been made yet.
Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure are expected to fall under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. Bloomberg reported the news, citing people familiar with the matter.
$MSFT AND $AMZN CLOUD HEADED FOR DMA GATEKEEPER TAG
🔹 Brussels has a preliminary view that AWS and Azure should be designated under the DMA
🔹 Biggest and second-biggest cloud in the EU, even though they miss the usual size thresholds
🔹 Lock-in, switching costs, and AI tools… pic.twitter.com/gIEBMOXZbM— CHItrader (@CHItrader) October 2, 2026
EU regulators have spent months investigating whether the two cloud businesses meet the criteria for DMA oversight. Sources told Bloomberg the companies do qualify.
A final decision could be issued as soon as November 2026. The timing could still shift since the matter remains in draft form.
What the EU Has Said So Far
The European Commission has not confirmed a final ruling. A spokesperson said preliminary findings were sent to Amazon and Microsoft back in June 2026.
“The assessments are ongoing and no final decision has been taken,” the Commission said.
The DMA is a rulebook designed to limit the power of large tech platforms operating in Europe. It already applies to companies like Apple, Google, and Meta.
Those three companies have received fines from the European Commission this year. Google’s fine was the largest, reaching about $1 billion.
Cloud providers have drawn more attention from regulators after a string of major outages disrupted services across the globe. The EU has also said it wants to reduce reliance on cloud providers based outside Europe.
What Changes If the Designation Happens
If AWS and Azure are designated under the DMA, the companies would have six months to meet new requirements.
These include interoperability rules, which would make it easier for customers to switch between cloud providers. The rules are also meant to prevent lock-in, where customers find it difficult to leave a provider once they start using it.
The DMA would also require protections against self-preferencing. This means cloud providers could not favor their own products or services over competitors on their platforms.
Microsoft responded to the report by saying it continues to engage with EU regulators. The company described the conversations as constructive.
Amazon Web Services also responded, saying customers in Europe now have more choice in cloud computing than ever before.
Neither company directly confirmed or denied the expected designation.
The situation comes as trade tensions between the United States and the EU remain a topic of discussion. In July 2026, President Donald Trump said the United States would launch a formal investigation into the EU’s trade practices.
Trump specifically criticized the Digital Markets Act in social media posts. He said the United States would not allow itself to be treated unfairly by European regulators.
He also said the European Union would face consequences for fines placed on American companies.
The report did not specify whether the political tension would affect the timing or outcome of the cloud investigation.
For now, the European Commission maintains that no final decision has been made. Both Amazon and Microsoft say they are continuing talks with regulators as the review moves toward a possible November announcement.
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