European Commission May Label Amazon and Microsoft Cloud Services as Gatekeepers
歐盟委員會可能將亞馬遜與微軟的雲端服務標記為「守門人」
Introduction
The European Commission has released early findings suggesting that Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure should be classified as 'gatekeepers' under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
歐盟委員會已發布初步調查結果，建議將亞馬遜雲端服務（AWS）與微軟 Azure 根據《數位市場法案》（DMA）歸類為「守門人」。
Main Body
This decision follows a seven-month investigation that began in November 2025. Although these companies did not meet the usual financial limits for this classification, the regulator believes that their high revenue and large number of users make them essential for European business. The Commission emphasized that AWS and Azure have invested far more than their competitors, which makes it difficult and expensive for customers to switch to other providers.
此決定是經過自 2025 年 11 月開始為期七個月的調查後得出的。儘管這些公司未達到此類分類的通常財務限額，但監管機構認為其高營收與龐大用戶數，使其對歐洲企業至關重要。委員會強調，AWS 與 Azure 的投資遠超競爭對手，導致客戶切換到其他供應商時面臨困難且成本高昂。
Furthermore, the Commission noted a strong link between the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and the dominance of these two providers. It argued that by using their own AI tools and strategic partnerships, these firms are taking a huge share of the demand for AI cloud services. Consequently, if they are designated as gatekeepers, they must follow strict rules. For example, they would be banned from favoring their own services and would have to make it easier for users to move their data to other platforms.
此外，委員會注意到人工智慧（AI）的增長與這兩家供應商的主導地位之間存在強烈聯繫。委員會主張，這些公司透過使用自家的 AI 工具與策略合作夥伴關係，佔據了 AI 雲端服務需求的巨大份額。因此，若被指定為守門人，則必須遵守嚴格的規則。例如，他們將被禁止優待自家服務，並必須讓用戶更容易將數據遷移至其他平台。
However, the companies have responded differently. Amazon asserted that the Commission is ignoring how diverse the cloud market actually is. They suggested that adding DMA rules on top of existing laws would create unnecessary repetition and slow down innovation. On the other hand, Microsoft expressed concern that Google Cloud and Gemini were not included in this process, arguing that ignoring Google's influence could create an unfair competitive environment.
然而，各公司的回應截然不同。亞馬遜主張委員會忽略了雲端市場實際上有多麼多元化。他們認為在現有法律之上增加 DMA 規則將導致不必要的重複，並減緩創新速度。另一方面，微軟則對 Google Cloud 與 Gemini 未被納入此程序表示擔憂，認為忽略 Google 的影響力可能會造成不公平的競爭環境。
Conclusion
Amazon and Microsoft now have the opportunity to challenge these early findings before the Commission makes a final decision.
亞馬遜與微軟現在有機會在委員會做出最終決定前，對這些初步調查結果提出挑戰。
Vocabulary Learning
🚀 The "Connective Leap": Moving from Simple to Sophisticated
At the A2 level, you likely use and, but, and because. To reach B2, you need to move beyond these and start using Logical Connectors. These words act like bridges, showing the reader exactly how two ideas relate.
⚡ The Upgrade Path
Look at how the article transforms basic logic into professional English:
-
Instead of "Also" Furthermore
- A2: They have many users. Also, they have AI tools.
- B2: "Furthermore, the Commission noted a strong link between the growth of AI..."
- Why? It adds weight to the argument, making it sound like a formal build-up.
-
Instead of "So" Consequently
- A2: They are gatekeepers, so they must follow rules.
- B2: "Consequently, if they are designated as gatekeepers, they must follow strict rules."
- Why? It emphasizes the direct result of a specific legal action.
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Instead of "But" On the other hand
- A2: Amazon said one thing, but Microsoft said another.
- B2: "On the other hand, Microsoft expressed concern..."
- Why? This is used to contrast two different opinions or perspectives clearly.
🛠️ Pro-Tip: The "Comma Rule"
Notice a pattern? In the article, Furthermore, Consequently, and On the other hand are all followed by a comma.
The B2 Secret: When you start a sentence with a heavy connector to organize your thoughts, always place a comma after it. This creates a natural pause and signals to the reader that a new, related point is arriving.