The EC has concerns about Amazon’s use of sensitive data from other retailers using the company’s marketplace.
Concerns about the use of sensitive data: In July 2019, the European Commission launched an investigation into Amazon’s alleged use of sensitive data from independent retailers which sell on its platform. The company directly competes with these businesses due to its dual role of marketplace and of retailer.
Amazon may have breached antitrust rules: On 10 November 2020, the EC reached the preliminary view that Amazon has breached EU antitrust rules. The EC believes Amazon systematically relies on non-public business data of independent sellers to benefit its own retail business. Amazon will now have to respond to the EC’s ‘statement of objections’.
A second investigation will begin: The Commission also started an investigation into Amazon’s Buy Box and Prime label. The EC is concerned Amazon may favour its own retail offers, and those of the sellers that use its logistics and delivery services in picking the offers of the Buy Box. In a statement, Amazon disagreed with the EC’s stance, saying it hosts on its platform more than 150k European businesses generating tens of billions of Euros in annual revenue.
