EU set to label AWS and Microsoft Azure as DMA gatekeepers, with a final decision due by end-2026

The European Commission is expected to issue preliminary findings next week that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure meet the criteria to be designated as “gatekeepers” under the Digital Markets Act. A final decision is expected by the end of 2026, though the timetable could change. If designated, the cloud providers would face obligations such as interoperability, limits on customer lock-in and curbs on self-preferencing, with potential fines of up to 10% of global turnover for breaches.