Story perspectives

EU Designates AWS, Azure as DMA Gatekeepers, Companies Dispute

6/26/2026

Summary

Amazon, Microsoft Gatekeepers

The European Commission announced on June 25, 2026 that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure will be designated as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act.
Gatekeeper status will limit self-preferencing, require interoperability, and allow fines of up to 10 % of worldwide turnover.
Amazon and Microsoft disputed the assessment, saying the rules could hurt investment and that excluding Google Cloud would skew competition, noting they already serve as gatekeepers for other EU services.

Summary

Von Thun Warns

Max von Thun, director of Open Markets Institute Europe (OMI Europe), welcomed the gatekeeper decision as a boost for cloud sovereignty.
OMI Europe urged Commission to amend the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to address cloud practices, align it with Data Act and CADA, and probe Google Cloud as a gatekeeper.
Von Thun warned Amazon and Microsoft’s cloud dominance threatens Europe’s AI ambitions and leaves the bloc vulnerable to foreign coercion.

Summary

Commission Targets Cloud

The Commission is applying the Digital Markets Act to Amazon and Microsoft despite their cloud services not meeting quantitative thresholds, invoking discretionary authority.
Teresa Ribera warned that Europe’s reliance on cloud computing makes a competitive market essential.
The Commission gave firms a defense period to review the file and submit observations.
The Commission said switching cloud providers incurs high costs and AI-driven infrastructure demand, creating concentration-related oversight needs.

Summary

Trump Claims Unfairness

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration says American firms are being treated unfairly by Europe’s cloud rules.
The European Commission says the issue is not a Europe-versus-U.S. dispute while preparing a digital dialogue whose inaugural meeting has not yet occurred.
Opponents claim the digital dialogue gives Washington a platform to lobby against EU regulations.
The Commission intends to reserve certain sensitive public contracts for European cloud providers to reduce foreign dependence.

History

Historical Context

In March 2004 the European Commission fined Microsoft €497 million for tying Windows Media Player to Windows and refusing interoperability data, the EU’s first major antitrust win. That precedent shaped the Commission’s June 2026 decision to name AWS and Microsoft Azure as Digital Markets Act gatekeepers, targeting self-preferencing in cloud services across Europe.

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Amazon, Microsoft Gatekeepers

The European Commission announced on June 25, 2026 that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure will be designated as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act.
Gatekeeper status will limit self-preferencing, require interoperability, and allow fines of up to 10 % of worldwide turnover.
Amazon and Microsoft disputed the assessment, saying the rules could hurt investment and that excluding Google Cloud would skew competition, noting they already serve as gatekeepers for other EU services.

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