EU probes Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure over potential gatekeeper status under digital rules.

The European Commission has launched investigations into Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure, assessing whether they should be designated as "gatekeepers" under the Digital Markets Act despite not meeting standard market size thresholds. The probes focus on whether these cloud services act as critical gateways between businesses and consumers, potentially hindering competition through practices like restricted data access, bundling, and unfair contract terms. The EU emphasizes the strategic importance of cloud computing for digital resilience and innovation, especially after recent widespread outages. Both companies argue the market remains competitive and warn that gatekeeper status could stifle innovation. The Commission aims to conclude the investigations within 12 months.