TLDR
- According to Bloomberg, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure are likely to receive Digital Markets Act designation from EU regulators.
- The European Commission may issue its final determination by November 2026.
- DMA status would impose requirements for interoperability, restrictions on customer retention tactics, and bans on self-preferencing practices.
- Designated firms would be granted six months to achieve compliance.
- EU officials state that no definitive ruling has been issued at this time.
The cloud computing divisions of Amazon and Microsoft are on track to be brought under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act framework. Bloomberg disclosed this development based on information from sources close to the situation.
European regulators have conducted a multi-month review to determine whether Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure satisfy the thresholds for DMA regulation. According to Bloomberg’s sources, both platforms meet the necessary criteria.
The Commission could publish its final determination as early as November 2026. However, the timeline remains subject to change since the decision is still being finalized in draft stage.
European Commission’s Current Position
EU authorities have not publicly confirmed any conclusive determination. A Commission representative indicated that preliminary assessment results were shared with both Amazon and Microsoft in June 2026.
“The assessments are ongoing and no final decision has been taken,” the Commission said.
The Digital Markets Act functions as a regulatory framework intended to curb the dominance of major technology platforms conducting business in Europe. It currently covers firms including Apple, Google, and Meta.
All three of these corporations have been hit with financial penalties by the European Commission during the current year. Google received the steepest sanction, totaling approximately $1 billion.
Cloud computing companies have attracted increased regulatory scrutiny following several significant service disruptions that affected users worldwide. EU policymakers have also expressed their intention to decrease dependency on cloud infrastructure operators headquartered outside European borders.
Implications of DMA Classification
Should Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure receive DMA designation, both companies would face a six-month deadline to satisfy new regulatory obligations.
Among these obligations are interoperability standards designed to simplify the process for customers who wish to migrate between different cloud service providers. The regulations aim to eliminate vendor lock-in scenarios in which clients face significant obstacles when attempting to discontinue service with a particular provider.
The DMA framework would additionally mandate safeguards against self-preferencing behavior. Under this provision, cloud infrastructure operators would be prohibited from giving preferential treatment to their proprietary products or services at the expense of competing offerings on their platforms.
Microsoft issued a statement acknowledging its ongoing dialogue with European Union authorities. The technology company characterized these exchanges as productive.
Amazon Web Services also released a comment, noting that European customers currently enjoy unprecedented variety in cloud computing options.
Neither corporation explicitly confirmed or refuted the anticipated designation.
This development unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing trade friction between the United States and the European Union. In July 2026, President Donald Trump announced plans for a formal inquiry into EU trade policies.
Trump took particular issue with the Digital Markets Act in statements posted on social media platforms. He asserted that the United States would resist what he characterized as unfair treatment by European regulatory bodies.
The president further warned that the European Union would face repercussions for imposing fines on U.S.-based technology companies.
Bloomberg’s report did not indicate whether the diplomatic friction would influence the schedule or conclusion of the cloud computing investigation.
At present, the European Commission continues to maintain that no conclusive decision has been reached. Both Amazon and Microsoft report that they remain in active discussions with regulatory officials as the review process advances toward a potential November announcement.
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