The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 state attorneys general have filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging it uses its dominant position in the marketplace to inflate prices on other platforms, overcharge sellers, and stifle competition.
FTC chairwoman Lina Khan accuses Amazon, whose owner Jeff Bezos also controls The Washington Post, of using “punitive and coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies.”
“Amazon is exploiting its monopoly power to enrich itself while raising prices and degrading services for its customers,” she added.
1. Today @FTC and 17 state AGs filed a lawsuit detailing how Amazon uses punitive & coercive tactics to unlawfully maintain its monopolies. Amazon is exploiting its monopoly power to enrich itself while raising prices & degrading service for its customers.https://t.co/7NiPGxx2CU
— Lina Khan (@linakhanFTC) September 26, 2023
The FTC and participating states are seeking a permanent injunction from the court to stop Amazon’s alleged unlawful conduct and restore competition.
While there had been speculation about the possibility of a forced break-up of the retail giant, Khan did not directly address this in a briefing with reporters, emphasizing that the focus is primarily on liability at this stage.
This anti-trust lawsuit marks one of the most significant legal challenges brought against Amazon in its nearly three-decade history. The outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for the company, which holds a dominant position not only in e-commerce but also in cloud computing, groceries, and health care.
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