Judge allows FTC antitrust case against Amazon to proceed
The Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case against Amazon will proceed, though some state claims were dismissed.
A US District judge has allowed the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case against Amazon to proceed, although some claims made by state attorneys general from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Oklahoma were dismissed. The FTC accuses Amazon of using anti-competitive tactics to dominate the online retail market, including an algorithm that allegedly inflated prices for US households by over $1 billion before it was discontinued in 2019.
Amazon had sought to dismiss the case, arguing that the FTC had not proven harm to consumers. However, the judge ruled that it’s too early to consider Amazon’s defense that its practices benefited competition. The case will continue, keeping the spotlight on Amazon’s business practices.