Italy Slaps Amazon with $10m Fine for Shady Business Deals

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Amazon fined €10m in Italy for alleged unfair commercial practices

The Italian Competition Authority (ICA) announced on Wednesday that it had fined two subordinate companies of Amazon group 10 million euros for alleged unfair commercial practices, reported Xinhua.

The targeted subsidiaries were Luxembourg-based Amazon Services Europe and Amazon EU.

Following investigations, the competition watchdog claimed that Amazon limited consumers' freedom of choice by pre-setting the "recurring purchase" option instead of the "one-time purchase" for a wide selection of products sold by Amazon and third parties on the marketplace. Such practice "significantly restricts consumers' freedom of choice," the ICA said.

"The graphic layout of the pre-selected recurring purchase option may lead consumers to buy products periodically — even when there is no actual need — thereby limiting their ability to choose freely," it explained.

The authority added that Amazon was expected to design its online interface in a manner "that allows consumers to make free and informed commercial decisions."

Finally, the ICA stated that, in the first phase of their investigation, they also contested the pre-selection of the paid fast delivery option. In this regard, the ICA explained that it had accepted Amazon's commitment to pre-select only the free delivery option in the future and to compensate those consumers who complained about this conduct in 2023.

Source: www.dailyfinland.fi

4 Comments
  1. EvaJohnson says

    It is concerning to see giant corporations like Amazon resorting to such manipulative tactics to influence consumer behavior. Consumers should always have the freedom to make informed choices without feeling pressured to make recurring purchases. The fine imposed by the Italian Competition Authority is a step in the right direction to ensure fair practices in the marketplace.

  2. OliviaSmith89 says

    It’s about time that Amazon faces consequences for their questionable practices. Consumers should always have the freedom to choose how they purchase products without being manipulated into recurring purchases. I’m glad to see the Italian Competition Authority taking a stand against these unfair practices.

  3. EmilyJohnson says

    It is concerning that Amazon has been fined for unfair commercial practices in Italy. Consumers should have the freedom to make informed choices without being misled by pre-selected options. Hopefully, this penalty serves as a reminder for Amazon to prioritize transparency and consumer rights in their online interface.

  4. Emily_87 says

    Do you think this fine is enough to deter Amazon from continuing such practices in the future?

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