EU Regulators Named Azure and AWS Under Digital Markets Act
The European Union has finalized an investigation, moving to apply its strict regulatory rulebook to both cloud platforms.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Data Centers
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European Union regulators have concluded an investigation into Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services, determining both platforms meet the specific requirements for designation under the Digital Markets Act.
Why it matters
This designation subjects the two largest cloud infrastructure providers to the European Union's strict competition framework, designed to limit the dominance of major technology firms.
The European Union confirmed that both Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services met the statutory thresholds required for classification under the Digital Markets Act. Regulators finalized these findings following a comprehensive review of the market power held by both firms.
The players
Microsoft Azure
A cloud computing platform providing scalable infrastructure, storage, and AI services as part of Microsoft's broader enterprise stack.
Amazon Web Services
A subsidiary of Amazon that provides an extensive suite of cloud computing platforms and on-demand APIs to individuals and companies.
The details
The Digital Markets Act functions as a specialized regulatory framework for large online platforms that act as gatekeepers to digital markets. By designating these services, the European Union mandates that the firms must adopt specific interoperability and fairness standards to ensure competitors can operate on their infrastructure. This application of the rulebook follows a formal investigation process that verified the market position of Azure and AWS relative to current regulatory definitions of platform dominance.
Timeline
October 2, 2026: The European Union published the report confirming the designation of both cloud platforms.
The Tech Race
This action extends the enforcement of the European Union Digital Markets Act to the cloud sector, a pivotal move in the law's ongoing implementation. It signals a shift toward applying antitrust-style scrutiny to infrastructure-as-a-service providers that have historically operated with fewer constraints than consumer-facing platform competitors.
Designation requires Microsoft and Amazon to modify their service frameworks to align with European Union competition standards. Users of these platforms may eventually see changes in cross-platform interoperability as the firms implement mandated adjustments to their cloud ecosystems.
The takeaway
The move brings the world's two largest cloud platforms into the EU's primary regulatory arena for Big Tech. Watch for the specific compliance roadmaps released by these firms in response to the designation, as these documents will detail the required changes to their cloud service architectures.
Further reading
For more on the changing regulatory environment for infrastructure providers, visit our Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloomberg Business.
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