Google Clears Major Regulatory Hurdle in Europe
Alphabet’s Google secured unconditional approval from European Union antitrust regulators on Tuesday for its $32 billion acquisition of Wiz, removing a major regulatory obstacle for the tech giant’s largest deal to date.
The decision, announced by the European Commission, clears the transaction without requiring concessions or remedies — a notable outcome given the heightened scrutiny facing Big Tech acquisitions globally.
The deal was first announced in March last year and represents a significant strategic bet by Google to expand its footprint in cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure services.
Why the EU Signed Off
EU regulators concluded that the acquisition would not significantly reduce competition, particularly in the highly contested cloud computing market.
“Google stands behind Amazon and Microsoft in terms of market shares in cloud infrastructure,” EU competition chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement, adding that customers would continue to have “credible alternatives” and the ability to switch providers.
According to the Commission, the cybersecurity data Google may gain through Wiz is not commercially sensitive and remains accessible to other security software providers, reducing concerns about data lock-in or market foreclosure.
The European Commission — the EU’s primary competition authority — emphasized that the deal does not materially alter the competitive landscape, particularly given Google’s current position behind Amazon and Microsoft in cloud market share.
A Strategic Cybersecurity Play
Wiz, a fast-growing cloud security company, has become a key player in protecting enterprise workloads across multiple cloud environments. By acquiring Wiz, Google significantly strengthens its security stack at a time when cybersecurity has become a core buying decision for enterprise cloud customers.
The move bolsters Google Cloud’s ability to compete on security — an area where Microsoft, in particular, has built a strong reputation by tightly integrating security products across its Azure ecosystem.
For Google, the acquisition is less about market dominance today and more about closing capability gaps and accelerating enterprise adoption over the long term.
Big Tech Deals Still Under the Microscope
While this deal cleared without conditions, it comes amid an environment of increased regulatory skepticism toward Big Tech mergers. Authorities in Europe and the U.S. have intensified oversight over transactions that could entrench market power, limit consumer choice, or stifle smaller competitors.
In recent years, several high-profile tech deals have faced delays, remedies, or outright challenges. Against that backdrop, Google’s clean approval is notable — and suggests regulators see the cloud market as sufficiently competitive despite the size of the transaction.
The decision may also serve as a reference point for future cloud and AI-related mergers, particularly where the acquiring company is not the market leader.
What Comes Next
With EU approval secured, attention now turns to remaining regulatory processes in other jurisdictions, as well as integration execution. Investors will be watching closely to see whether Wiz accelerates Google Cloud’s enterprise growth and narrows the competitive gap with its larger rivals.
The deal also underscores a broader trend: cloud competition is shifting from pure infrastructure to security, reliability, and trust — areas where spending remains resilient even during periods of tighter enterprise budgets.
WSA Take
This approval is a quiet but meaningful win for Google. Regulators effectively signaled that the cloud market remains competitive — and that Google is still playing catch-up rather than consolidation king.
For investors, the Wiz deal isn’t about short-term revenue. It’s about positioning. In a cloud arms race increasingly defined by security and enterprise confidence, Google just bought itself a much stronger seat at the table.
Disclaimer
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