Amazon Fined 10 Million Euros for Unfair Commercial Practices, Prompting Consumers to Buy Products They Don’t Need

The Amazon group’s two companies, Amazon Services Europe and Amazon EU, have been fined 10 million euros by the Antitrust for engaging in unfair commercial practices. Specifically, the investigation found that they pre-selected periodic purchases on their website, where consumers were automatically set to buy products periodically even if they did not need them. This practice significantly limited consumer choice and violated the principle of professional diligence that requires online operators to provide interfaces that allow consumers to make free and informed choices during the purchasing process.

Initially, concerns were raised about pre-selecting paid fast delivery options as well, but Amazon has since committed to only predefining the free delivery option 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.