THEEuropean antitrust accusation Amazon of abuse of a dominant position. On Tuesday, the EU competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, said during a press conference in Brussels that the American e-commerce giant “illegally distorted the online retail market".
The case revolves around the double role played by Amazon, which provides the digital platform where millions of private traders sell their wares, but at the same time is itself a competing seller.
It took two years of investigations, but in the end Brussels officials were seized with doubts that Amazon could take advantage of the double role, using the data it collects on private retailers to help them compete more effectively. Outcome: The European Commission sent a letter of objection to Amazon for using non-public data from independent sellers.
But it's not over. The EU Antitrust then opened a second investigation on the e-commerce of the American group, also accused of conceding preferential treatment for your offers and the goods of sellers who use your logistics and delivery services.
The news had been anticipated since Financial Times. Amazon didn't provide any comment, but has dismissed allegations of unfair competition in the past, saying the reseller business represents only a small share of the retail industry on its platform.
Meanwhile, on 2 December the European Commission will launch the Digital Service Act, a set of pro-competition and consumer-friendly rules on the European digital market that will enter into force as early as 2021.
