European regulators are preparing another significant move against some of the world’s biggest technology companies. The European Union is reportedly considering classifying the cloud computing services of Amazon and Microsoft as “gatekeepers” under its Digital Markets Act (DMA), a designation that could bring tougher rules and increased regulatory oversight.
The European Union is taking a closer look at the growing influence of cloud computing, and two of the industry’s biggest players are now in its sights.
According to reports, regulators are considering classifying Amazon’s cloud division and Microsoft’s cloud services as gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act, a landmark piece of legislation designed to limit the power of dominant technology platforms.
If approved, the move would mark a significant expansion of the EU’s efforts to regulate Big Tech and promote greater competition across digital markets. The Digital Markets Act was introduced to address concerns that a small number of technology companies have become too powerful, making it difficult for competitors to gain market access and limiting consumer choice.
Under the law, companies designated as gatekeepers face a series of obligations intended to prevent anti-competitive behavior and ensure fairer market conditions. Until now, much of the focus has been on services such as search engines, social media platforms, app stores, and online marketplaces.
However, regulators are increasingly turning their attention toward cloud computing, a sector that has quietly become one of the most important foundations of the modern digital economy. Cloud services power everything from websites and mobile applications to artificial intelligence systems, enterprise software, financial platforms, and government operations.
As demand for digital infrastructure continues to rise, cloud providers have become some of the most influential companies in the technology ecosystem. Amazon and Microsoft dominate much of that market through Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. Together, the two companies control a substantial share of global cloud infrastructure spending and provide services to businesses of all sizes across multiple industries.
Their platforms have become essential tools for organizations looking to store data, run applications, and deploy advanced technologies. That dominance is one reason regulators are paying closer attention. European officials are reportedly assessing whether the influence exercised by AWS and Azure meets the criteria required for gatekeeper designation under the Digital Markets Act.
If regulators conclude that the services have become critical gateways for businesses and consumers, both companies could face new obligations designed to encourage competition. Such obligations could include requirements related to interoperability, data portability, transparency, and restrictions on practices that might disadvantage competitors.
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The goal would be to make it easier for customers to switch providers and reduce the risk of vendor lock-in, a long-standing concern within the cloud industry. Vendor lock-in occurs when customers become heavily dependent on a specific provider’s infrastructure, making migration to another platform difficult, expensive, or technically challenging.
Critics argue that such situations can reduce competition and limit innovation. Cloud providers, on the other hand, often argue that customers choose their platforms because of performance, reliability, security, and the breadth of services available.
The potential designation of Amazon and Microsoft as gatekeepers comes at a time when cloud computing is becoming even more important due to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence. Training and deploying advanced AI models requires enormous computing resources, and many companies rely on cloud infrastructure to access those capabilities.
As AI adoption accelerates, control over cloud infrastructure is becoming increasingly valuable. Industry observers say that is likely one reason regulators are taking a closer look at the sector. The European Union has consistently positioned itself as a global leader in technology regulation.
Over the past decade, the bloc has introduced rules covering privacy, competition, digital services, artificial intelligence, and online content moderation. Supporters argue that these measures help protect consumers and create a fairer digital marketplace.
Critics, however, warn that excessive regulation could slow innovation and make Europe less competitive in emerging technologies. The latest scrutiny of cloud services is likely to reignite that debate. For Amazon and Microsoft, any gatekeeper designation could result in additional compliance requirements and increased regulatory oversight.
While neither company is likely to lose its dominant position overnight, the move could influence how cloud services are offered and how customers interact with those platforms in the future. The decision could also have broader implications for the technology industry.
Other cloud providers, enterprise software companies, and AI firms will be watching closely to see how regulators define market power in an era where digital infrastructure plays an increasingly central role.
Many experts believe the outcome could help shape future regulatory approaches to cloud computing around the world. For now, the review remains part of the EU’s ongoing effort to ensure that digital markets remain open and competitive. Whether Amazon and Microsoft ultimately receive gatekeeper status will depend on the findings of regulators, but the message from Brussels is becoming increasingly clear.
The era when cloud computing operated largely outside the spotlight of major competition regulators may be coming to an end. As cloud infrastructure becomes more central to the global economy, governments are paying closer attention to who controls it, how it is used, and whether competition can thrive within it.
