Brussels, January 8, 2026 — The European Commission’s first review of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has drawn broad support for the regulation’s objectives but also reveals mounting concern among stakeholders over enforcement delays, information asymmetries, and whether the framework is adequately equipped to address artificial intelligence and cloud services.
The findings are set out in a summary of contributions to a targeted consultation, a call for evidence, and a dedicated AI consultation launched in mid-2025 to inform the Commission’s first statutory review of the DMA, due by May 3, 2026. The feedback reflects less than two years of practical application of the regime, with DMA obligations fully applicable to the first designated gatekeepers since March 7, 2024.
Enforcement and Scope Under Scrutiny
Across consultations, most respondents — including SMEs, business users, civil society organisations and academics — supported the DMA’s aim of ensuring fair and contestable digital markets but stressed that its effectiveness depends on faster, more transparent and more robust enforcement.
Concerns were raised about slow procedures, limited visibility into enforcement priorities and compliance assessments, and design choices that may undermine meaningful user choice. Several respondents called for binding procedural timelines, interim measures, independent audits of compliance solutions, and enhanced complaint mechanisms similar to those used in traditional enforcement proceedings.
By contrast, gatekeepers and affiliated entities emphasised proportionality, legal certainty and dialogue-based enforcement, warning that overly rigid obligations and premature scope expansion could harm innovation, security and user experience.
AI and Cloud Services at the Center Of Debate
Artificial intelligence emerged as a central theme. Many respondents argued that new AI-powered services could already fall within existing core platform service categories, such as search engines, operating systems and intermediation services. Others called for the creation of a new, standalone category for AI services, potentially aligned with definitions under the AI Act.
Cloud services also attracted significant attention. Business users and civil society organisations argued that the DMA’s quantitative thresholds may fail to capture market realities in cloud computing, leaving persistent concerns around switching, interoperability, and data portability unaddressed. Several respondents urged the Commission to consider cloud designations or adjusted criteria, while others cautioned against regulatory overlap with existing EU digital legislation.
Calls for Clearer Obligations and Reporting
Stakeholders repeatedly identified interoperability, self-preferencing, data access, and user choice design as areas requiring clearer guidance or stronger obligations. Many criticised the limited detail in public summaries of gatekeeper compliance reports and supported the introduction of standardised templates, independent verification, and clearer benchmarks.
Despite the concerns, respondents acknowledged early positive effects from the DMA, including greater app and browser choice, the ability to uninstall default applications, and new data portability solutions. However, several noted that the impact of these measures is often constrained by implementation choices.
Next Steps
The Commission said it will further reflect on the feedback while preparing its first review report under Article 53 of the DMA. Respondents broadly agreed that the regulation’s long-term success will hinge on sustained, well-resourced and predictable enforcement, alongside careful consideration of how emerging technologies such as AI and cloud services fit within the DMA framework.
