EU Proposes DMA Gatekeeper Status for Microsoft Azure and AWS
MSFT•EU competition enforcer’s preliminary findings after a seven-month investigation recommend designating Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act with new operating restrictions. Microsoft warned that ignoring Google Cloud’s expanding market power could skew competitive dynamics.
1. EU Competition Enforcer Recommends Gatekeeper Designation
The EU competition authority’s seven-month investigation concluded that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure meet criteria for gatekeeper designation under the Digital Markets Act, which will impose obligations such as data sharing, interoperability requirements and transparency obligations.
2. Microsoft’s Response and Potential Impacts
Microsoft expressed concerns that focusing solely on AWS and Azure overlooks Google Cloud’s rapid growth, warning that restrictive rules could distort market competition. If formalized, the designation may lead to higher compliance costs and changes in service offerings within the European market.
