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EU Eyes Amazon, Microsoft Cloud Giants as Gatekeepers
25 Jun
Summary
- EU regulators tentatively identified Amazon and Microsoft cloud services as gatekeepers.
- The Digital Markets Act aims to ensure a level playing field in the tech industry.
- Companies expressed concerns about stifling innovation and ignoring Google's growing power.
European Union antitrust regulators have issued a preliminary finding that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure should be designated as 'gatekeepers' under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
This designation under the DMA signifies that these major cloud computing services are subject to a list of specific obligations and prohibitions designed to foster a more competitive digital market.
The European Commission's preliminary assessment followed a seven-month investigation into the market power of these leading cloud providers. Amazon has voiced objections, stating the assessment overlooks the variety of cloud services available and could discourage European investment.
Microsoft, while acknowledging the focus on AWS and Azure, expressed concern that the investigation does not adequately address the rising influence of Google Cloud, warning of a potential market imbalance.
