EU regulators filed antitrust charges against Amazon today. The charges accuse Amazon of unfairly using data from third-party retailers on its platform to gain an advantage for its own retail business. Amazon faces a fine of up to 10% of its global annual revenue if it is ultimately found guilty. The company issued a statement denying the claims.
More context: The EU began investigating Amazon in 2018 and has focused on the company’s dual role as both marketplace and direct retailer (i.e. serving as a platform for third-party retailers but also competing directly with those retailers).
Extra: The case marks the latest in a series of tech-related antitrust actions brought by the EU, including three fines levied against Google from 2017 to 2019.
