European Commission to Scrutinize Major Cloud Providers Under Digital Markets Act

The European Commission has announced plans to conduct a formal investigation into the market influence and practices of major cloud service providers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. This move aligns with the (DMA), a legislative framework designed to regulate large digital platforms and promote fair competition in the EU’s digital economy. The inquiry, anticipated in November 2025, marks a pivotal step in assessing whether these providers hold disproportionate power and whether additional regulatory measures are required to ensure balanced market conditions.

The investigation is expected to focus on the scope of services offered by these cloud providers and their potential to leverage dominant positions in the market. Key areas of evaluation include the bundling of services, access to infrastructure, and the extent to which their platforms enable or restrict competition among smaller players. The DMA requires gatekeepers—large platforms with significant market influence—to operate in a manner that supports fair and open digital ecosystems. This inquiry is a direct application of those principles to the cloud computing sector.

The European Commission’s move is consistent with its broader strategy to enforce the DMA across multiple digital sectors. By scrutinizing cloud services, the regulator aims to determine whether existing rules are sufficient or whether new safeguards are necessary to prevent anti-competitive practices. The outcomes could lead to the imposition of additional restrictions or the development of sector-specific guidelines.

Cloud computing is a critical enabler of modern digital transformation, with major providers offering a wide range of services from data storage to artificial intelligence. These services often form the backbone of business operations across industries, making their influence particularly significant. The inquiry seeks to assess whether this influence translates into market power that could undermine competition or limit innovation.

Regulatory scrutiny of big tech firms has intensified globally in recent years, with the EU leading the charge in establishing to rein in monopolistic tendencies. The Digital Markets Act is a central part of this effort, and the investigation into cloud providers reflects its ongoing implementation. The European Commission’s decision to focus on this sector highlights the importance of maintaining a in the digital economy, where technological dominance can quickly translate into market control.

The investigation also underscores the Commission’s proactive stance in ensuring the DMA’s effectiveness. By addressing cloud providers directly, the regulator is sending a clear message that no sector is immune to scrutiny under the Act. This approach is expected to encourage compliance and reinforce the DMA’s role in shaping a competitive digital landscape in Europe.