The case against Amazon could be a sign of things to come
Amazon, Meta, Facebook, Google, YouTube and Amazon in the Classroom: A Review of FTC and House Judiciary Actions against the E-Commerce Giant
The Federal Trade Commission and more than a dozen state attorneys general have filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that the e-commerce giant has unlawfully leveraged its market dominance to stamp out would-be competitors.
Amazon this year paid more than $30 million to settle FTC lawsuits that accused the company of failing to destroy data on children’s conversation with its voice assistant, and of monitoring customers’ Ring cameras without their consent.
Amazon has tried, without success, to have Khan recused from FTC cases about the company. The FTC found no federal ethics grounds to prevent Khan from participating in cases related to Amazon.
The FTC this year lost a lawsuit against Meta over its acquisition of Within Unlimited virtual reality company, and then struck out of its attempt to block Microsoft’s purchase of the publisher of video games.
As FTC chair, Khan positioned herself as an aggressive regulator, unafraid to challenge companies in court and undeterred by the prospect of some losses.
Later, as Democratic counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust panel in 2020, Khan helped write a 449-page report that called for “structural separations” of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. They have become the kind of monopolies we haven’t seen before, like oil barons and railroad tycoons.
One of the biggest delivery companies in the U.S. is built up by Amazon with warehouses, air hub and trucking operations that deliver more packages than FedEx. It has also ventured into healthcare, home security, filmmaking and other fields — becoming one of the world’s most valuable corporations, worth $1.3 trillion.
Though Amazon’s growth has slowed, it’s the most popular online store in the U.S., capturing over 40% or more of all online shopping, according to private and government research. Consumer Intelligence Research Partners estimates that about two-thirds of U.S. adults are members of Amazon’s Prime service.
FTC action on the Sturm-Lambda-Fermi collider and search for a permanent injunction
The FTC never sought a break up of the company. It asked the court for a permanent injunction, but this could change in the future. The case is expected to last several years.
