The FTC and 22 state attorneys general are suing Amazon, alleging the company used a 'secret ad surcharge' to systematically inflate advertising prices on its platform. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson claims these higher ad costs were largely passed on to American consumers, potentially violating the FTC Act and multiple state laws. This lawsuit follows Amazon's recent $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC over Prime subscription practices.
Background
Amazon is one of the world's largest digital advertising platforms, competing with Google and Meta. The FTC has been increasingly aggressive in pursuing tech antitrust cases, with Amazon recently settling a $2.5 billion lawsuit over Prime subscription practices in May 2024.
- Source
- The Verge
- Published
- Sep 1, 2026 at 05:41 AM
- Score
- 8.0 / 10