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Amazon's AWS and Microsoft's Azure face EU probe into cloud powerA Microsoft spokesperson said that the company stands ready to contribute to the commission’s market inquiry, and a spokesperson for Amazon.com Inc.’s AWS unit said it’s confident regulators will find that the cloud market provides choice and innovation.By Bloomberg  November 18, 2025, 4:39:44 PM IST (Published)2 Min ReadAmazon Web Services and Microsoft Corp.’s Azure are under investigation by the European Union to determine whether the world’s two biggest cloud platforms should be hit by rules designed to curtail Big Tech’s market power.

The European Commission said on Tuesday (November 18) that the pair “occupy very strong positions” and that it will assess “whether they act as important gateways between businesses and consumers” under the Digital Markets Act.

It said it will also check whether the rulebook aimed at reining in anticompetitive behaviour is “effective in addressing practices that limit competitiveness or are unfair in the cloud sector."

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The EU’s move to home in on cloud platforms follows several major outages in the industry that wrought havoc across global services, highlighting the risks of relying on a mere handful of players.

A Microsoft spokesperson said that the company stands ready to contribute to the commission’s market inquiry, and a spokesperson for Amazon.com Inc.’s AWS unit said it’s confident regulators will find that the cloud market provides choice and innovation.

Just last month, Amazon’s reputation as a reliable provider of cloud services took a hit when an outage lasting some 15 hours disrupted the operations of hundreds of companies, ranging from Apple Inc. to McDonald’s Corp. to Epic Games Inc.

Microsoft’s Azure was similarly hit by troubles in October that prevented people from checking in for Alaska Airlines flights and halted votes inside the Scottish Parliament.

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The fresh probe into AWS and Azure’s power is due to conclude within 12 months, the regulator said. The commission is set to adopt a final decision on the way the cloud sector is regulated under the DMA within 18 months.Continue ReadingCheck out our in-depth Market Coverage, Business News & get real-time Stock Market Updates on CNBC-TV18. Also, Watch our channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz and CNBC Bajar Live on-the-go!TagsAmazon Web ServicesAzureEuropean UnionMicrosoft Corporation