EU lines up AWS and Azure for DMA cloud gatekeeper status

Category: Markets
Status: developing
Sources: The Register, HN
Summary: On 2026-06-25 the European Commission issued preliminary findings that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure should be designated gatekeepers under the Digital Markets Act, the first time the regime would extend to cloud infrastructure. The Commission says the two qualify as an important gateway despite not meeting the law's quantitative thresholds; together they hold roughly 70% of European cloud revenue. Designation would bring interoperability, data-portability, and self-preferencing obligations, with fines up to 10% of worldwide turnover for non-compliance.
Why it matters: Gatekeeper duties on AWS and Azure would reshape cloud lock-in, egress, and interoperability terms for European engineering teams.
Follow-up: Track the formal designation decision, the specific obligations imposed, and any appeal.