Digital Markets Act Could Force AWS and Azure to Adopt Interoperability Rules Within Six Months

TLDR

• According to Bloomberg, Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure are likely to receive gatekeeper status under EU’s Digital Markets Act.
• A final ruling from the European Commission may arrive by November 2026.
• Gatekeeper designation would impose interoperability obligations and restrictions on self-preferencing practices and customer retention tactics.
• Designated firms would face a six-month compliance deadline.
• EU officials state that no conclusive determination has been reached at this stage.

The European Union is poised to bring Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure under its Digital Markets Act framework. The report from Bloomberg comes from sources with knowledge of the ongoing regulatory process.

European authorities have conducted extensive assessments over recent months to determine whether these cloud platforms satisfy the threshold criteria for DMA classification. According to Bloomberg’s sources, both organizations meet the necessary standards.

The Commission may announce its conclusive determination as early as November 2026. However, the timeline remains subject to adjustment as the assessment is still at the draft stage.

Official Position from Brussels

The European Commission has refrained from confirming any definitive outcome. An official representative noted that initial assessment results were communicated to 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 represents regulatory legislation intended to curb the dominance of major technology platforms conducting business within European borders. The framework currently governs corporations including Apple, Google, and Meta.

All three companies have faced monetary penalties from the European Commission during the current year. Google received the most substantial sanction, approximately $1 billion.

Cloud service providers have attracted heightened regulatory scrutiny following numerous significant service interruptions that affected operations worldwide. European authorities have additionally expressed intentions to decrease dependency on cloud infrastructure controlled by non-European entities.

Implications of Gatekeeper Classification

Should AWS and Azure receive official gatekeeper designation under the DMA framework, both organizations would face a six-month deadline to satisfy new regulatory obligations.

Among the mandates are interoperability standards designed to facilitate easier migration between different cloud service providers. These provisions aim to eliminate lock-in scenarios where clients encounter substantial obstacles when attempting to transition away from their current provider.

The legislation would additionally mandate safeguards against self-preferencing behaviors. This provision prevents cloud platforms from systematically promoting their proprietary solutions or services at the expense of third-party alternatives operating within their ecosystems.

Microsoft issued a statement acknowledging ongoing dialogue with European regulatory bodies. The corporation characterized these exchanges as productive and cooperative.

Amazon Web Services similarly responded, emphasizing that European customers currently enjoy unprecedented selection among cloud computing options.

Neither organization explicitly acknowledged or disputed the anticipated regulatory classification.

This development unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing commercial friction between the United States and European Union. In July 2026, President Donald Trump announced plans for a comprehensive inquiry into European trade policies.

Trump directed particular criticism toward the Digital Markets Act through social media communications. He stated that the United States would resist what he characterized as discriminatory treatment by European regulatory authorities.

He further indicated that the European Union would encounter repercussions for financial penalties imposed on American corporations.

The Bloomberg report did not indicate whether geopolitical considerations might influence the schedule or conclusion of the cloud platform investigation.

Currently, the European Commission maintains its position that no binding decision has been finalized. Both Amazon and Microsoft confirm they remain engaged in discussions with regulatory officials as the review process advances toward a potential November disclosure.