Amazon Fined for Unfair Commercial Practices: A Landmark Decision by the Antitrust

In a landmark decision, the Antitrust has fined two Amazon companies within the group, Amazon Services Europe and Amazon EU, a total of 10 million euros for engaging in unfair commercial practices. The specific practice in question was pre-selecting periodic purchases on their website, where consumers were automatically set to buy products periodically even if they did not necessarily need them.

This conduct violated the principle of professional diligence that requires online operators like Amazon to provide interfaces that allow consumers to make free and informed choices during the purchasing process. Initially, the investigation also raised concerns about pre-selecting paid fast delivery options but Amazon has since committed to only predefining free delivery options in the future.

As part of their commitments, the two companies will offer compensation to consumers who contacted Customer Service to report concerns about these practices during 2023. This decision by the Antitrust serves as a reminder that companies must uphold fair and transparent practices when it comes to online commerce to protect consumer rights and ensure a level playing field in the market.