BULLETPOINT SUMMARY:
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US regulators (“The FTC and 17 other state attorneys”) have sued Amazon, alleging illegal maintenance of monopoly power. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claims Amazon uses anticompetitive strategies to raise prices and stifle competition and of being a monopolist that prevents rivals from lowering prices and stifiling innovation.
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Amazon denies the allegations and plans to defend itself in court. FTC Chair Lina Khan has been targeting Amazon for years and sees this case as a crucial test of her leadership. The dominance of tech giants has prompted calls for more competition in online search, retail, and social media. The FTC has had little success though in previous cases against Big Tech.
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Amazon argues that the lawsuit would result in fewer products, higher prices, and slower deliveries for consumers. The case centres around consumers supposedly losing money due to the alleged monopoly. Proving financial harm to consumers is challenging in cases involving Big Tech, however, as many services are free.
[Google is also facing a separate court battle with the US government over accusations of having an advertising technology monopoly.]
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/1910129AmazoneCommerceComplaintPublic.pdf