Europe’s DMA Moves Into the Machinery Phase as Cloud, Search, & Device Ecosystems Face Deeper Scrutiny

Key Takeaways

• DMA Enforcement Is Becoming More Operational: The Commission’s latest report reflects a shift from early gatekeeper designations toward ongoing investigations, technical specifications, and active supervision.
• Cloud Computing Has Become a Major Focus: The European Commission opened three market investigations tied to the cloud sector, including probes into potential gatekeeper designations and market competitiveness.
• Interoperability Requirements Are Expanding: Regulators finalized interoperability conditions for connected devices such as smartwatches and wearables, closing two proceedings opened in 2024.
• Search Visibility Is Under Scrutiny: The Commission launched a non-compliance investigation into the possible demotion of media publishers’ content in search results.

Deep Dive

The European Commission has published its third annual report on the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), outlining a year marked by enforcement actions, expanding investigations, and continued efforts to shape competition rules for some of the world’s largest digital platforms.

The 2025 report provides an overview of the Commission’s ongoing work to enforce the Digital Markets Act, the European Union’s landmark regulatory framework aimed at making digital markets “fair and contestable” by placing obligations on designated “gatekeeper” platforms that hold entrenched positions in key digital services.

Among the developments highlighted in the report were the conclusion of two non-compliance proceedings that resulted in fines. According to the Commission, one decision related to anti-steering practices, while another concerned consumers’ options regarding the use of their personal data.

The report also points to continued work on interoperability requirements for connected devices. Last year, the Commission finalized conditions designed to improve interoperability with products such as smartwatches and other wearable devices, bringing to a close two specification proceedings that had been opened in 2024.

Cloud computing emerged as another major area of focus in the report. The Commission said it opened three separate market investigations tied to the cloud sector. Two of those investigations are examining whether certain cloud computing services should be designated as gatekeepers under the DMA framework. A third investigation is assessing whether the DMA is effectively supporting fairness and competitiveness within the cloud computing market itself.

Separately, the report notes that the Commission launched a non-compliance investigation concerning the possible demotion of media publishers’ content in search results, signaling continued scrutiny over how large digital platforms rank and surface information.

Beyond enforcement and investigations, the report also provides updated information on gatekeepers’ reporting obligations under the DMA. This includes disclosures related to mergers and acquisitions, as well as audited descriptions of consumer profiling techniques used by covered companies.

The Commission further outlined ongoing coordination efforts tied to the DMA, including work conducted through the DMA High-Level Group and cooperation with authorities in third countries as regulators increasingly grapple with overlapping issues involving digital competition, platform governance, privacy, and market access.

The DMA formally began applying to designated gatekeepers in 2024 and has quickly become one of the European Union’s most consequential digital regulatory frameworks, particularly for major technology companies operating across search, advertising, app distribution, cloud computing, and connected device ecosystems.

While the report largely serves as a status update on implementation and enforcement activity, it also reflects how the DMA is continuing to evolve beyond its initial rollout phase, with regulators increasingly moving from designation and procedural work toward active investigations, interoperability mandates, and compliance enforcement.

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