The FTC and 22 state attorneys general have filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the company secretly manipulated ad auction results from 2019 onward to overcharge advertisers by an estimated $20 billion. Internal documents reportedly reveal hidden surcharges applied across Sponsored Products, Brands, and Display ads, overriding competitive auction prices.
Background
Amazon's advertising business has grown into a multi-billion-dollar segment, making it one of the largest digital ad platforms globally. This lawsuit represents a significant antitrust challenge to Amazon's ad pricing practices.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Sep 2, 2026 at 01:51 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10