Formally start the ec2 deprecation process

meta/runtime.yml

@@ -72,6 +72,13 @@ plugin_routing:
             The cloudformation_info module returns the same information, but
             not as ansible_facts.  See the module documentation for more
             information.
+    ec2:
+      deprecation:
+        removal_version: 4.0.0
+        warning_text: >-
+            The ec2 module is based upon a deprecated version of the AWS SDKs
+            and is deprecated in favor of the ec2_instance module.
+            Please update your tasks.
     ec2_ami_facts:
       deprecation:
         removal_date: 2021-12-01

plugins/modules/ec2.py

@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@
 module: ec2
 version_added: 1.0.0
 short_description: create, terminate, start or stop an instance in ec2
+deprecated:
+  removed_in: 4.0.0
+  why: The ec2 module is based upon a deprecated version of the AWS SDK.
+  alternative: Use M(ec2_instance).
 description:
     - Creates or terminates ec2 instances.
     - >
@@ -1959,6 +1963,9 @@ def main():
         ],
     )
 
+    module.deprecate("The 'ec2' module has been deprecated and replaced by the 'ec2_instance' module'",
+                     version='4.0.0', collection_name='amazon.aws')
+
     if module.params.get('group') and module.params.get('group_id'):
         module.deprecate(
             msg='Support for passing both group and group_id has been deprecated. '