The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 states filed a complaint against Amazon on Tuesday, accusing it of “anti-competitive and unfair strategies to illegally maintain its monopoly” over online commerce, according to a press release from the federal agency. , reports AFP and Reuters.
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The FTC, which is also responsible for consumer protection, already has several ongoing investigations and complaints against the platform on topics ranging from data privacy to its business practices.
“The FTC and its state partners say Amazon’s actions allow it to prevent rivals and sellers from lowering prices, degrade quality for buyers, overcharge sellers, stifle innovation, and prevent rivals from competing fairly with Amazon,” it said. the agency in a statement.
The FTC said it has asked the court to issue a permanent injunction ordering Amazon.com to stop its illegal conduct.
The FTC said Amazon, founded in 1994, penalized sellers who tried to offer prices lower than Amazon’s, making it difficult for consumers to find the seller on Amazon’s platform.
Other allegations include that Amazon prioritized its own products on its platforms over those of competitors that were also on the platform.
