The European Union has stepped up technology regulation and launched an antitrust investigation into the cloud businesses of Amazon and Microsoft.

The European Union has further intensified its regulation of American tech giants. On Monday, the European Commission announced the launch of three separate investigations into the cloud computing businesses of Amazon and Microsoft, assessing whether both companies should be subject to stricter oversight under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Two of the investigations will examine whether Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure should be designated as "gatekeepers" under the DMA framework, even though neither company currently meets the thresholds for scale, user numbers, or market dominance specified by the act. According to DMA regulations, companies providing core platform services must have more than 45 million monthly active users and a market capitalization of over €75 billion to be recognized as "gatekeepers." The third investigation will evaluate whether the current DMA framework is sufficient to address what the European Commission describes as anti-competitive behavior in the European cloud computing industry. Companies found to have violated DMA rules could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue. The European Commission stated it expects to complete the investigations into AWS and Azure within 12 months and the assessment of the DMA legal framework within 18 months. **Regulatory Standards May Exceed Established Thresholds** A notable feature of the EU's latest probe is that even if companies do not meet the quantitative standards set by the DMA, regulators may still designate them as "gatekeepers." The criteria for gatekeeper designation include: at least €75 billion in market value over the past three years, annual turnover in the EU exceeding €7.5 billion, at least 45 million monthly active users, more than 10,000 annual active business users, and offering core platform services in at least three EU member states. EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said the investigation will review "whether current DMA rules need to be updated so that Europe can keep pace with the fast-evolving cloud computing sector." She emphasized that cloud computing is critical to Europe’s development in artificial intelligence and digital competitiveness. In its statement, the European Commission noted that cloud computing "must be offered in a fair, open, and competitive environment" to ensure innovation and Europe's "strategic autonomy." **Corporate Responses and Compliance Preparation** An AWS spokesperson told the media they believe the European Commission will ultimately conclude that stricter rules are unnecessary. The spokesperson said: > "We believe that when the European Commission looks at the facts, it will recognize that the cloud computing sector is extremely dynamic, with companies enjoying unprecedented opportunities for innovation and low costs." A Microsoft spokesperson responded that the company "stands ready to contribute to the investigation." If the European Commission ultimately determines AWS and Azure constitute an "important gateway" between businesses and their customers, these services could be added to the list of core platform services. Currently, Microsoft and Amazon’s LinkedIn, Windows PC operating system, Amazon Marketplace, and Amazon Advertising have already been classified as "gatekeepers." Once designated as "gatekeepers" in the cloud computing sector, Amazon or Microsoft would have six months to comply with DMA rules, triggering new obligations including interoperability requirements and prohibitions on unfairly favoring their own products. According to media reports, this legislation has drawn criticism from the Trump administration, which in February argued the DMA unfairly targets U.S. tech companies. The EU’s regulatory upgrade for the cloud computing market reflects its prioritization of control over digital infrastructure. As artificial intelligence development and digital transformation accelerate, cloud services have become a key strategic resource, and the results of these investigations will have important implications for the European business strategies of global tech giants. Risk warning and disclaimer The market holds risks, and investments should be made cautiously. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the unique investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article fit their specific circumstances. Investing based on this article is at your own risk.