The European Commission has launched three market investigations concerning cloud computing services as part of its enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The primary focus is on whether Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure should be classified as gatekeepers, despite not meeting the traditional thresholds for size and user numbers.

Recent analyses suggest that both Amazon and Microsoft hold significant positions in the cloud market, potentially acting as crucial gateways between businesses and consumers. The Commission will evaluate specific characteristics of the cloud sector that may further entrench the dominance of these services.

If the investigations conclude that Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure qualify as gatekeepers, they will be included in the list of core platform services already designated under the DMA. This classification would impose additional obligations aimed at promoting competition and fairness in the market.

Additionally, the Commission is gathering insights from market participants to determine the effectiveness of the DMA in addressing practices that may hinder competitiveness in the cloud sector. This includes examining issues such as interoperability barriers, restricted access to data for business users, and potentially unfair contractual terms.