Italy’s competition authority has fined two Amazon companies a sum of $10.6 million USD for allegedly engaging in unfair commercial practices related to online purchases. The Italian Competition Authority, also known as Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), is a competition regulator in Italy. It is responsible for consumer protection against unfair trade practices and false advertising.
The report mentions that AGCM found that products sold directly by Amazon and third-party sellers on the marketplace were subject to a pre-selection tactic of the “recurring purchase” option instead of the “one-time purchase” option. This limits consumer choice and takes away their freedom to choose, which, as a result, leads to periodic purchases from consumers when there is no need, thereby limiting their ability to make informed decisions.
Earlier this month, Incognito blog reported a fine of $7.8 million USD imposed on Amazon by the competition authorities in Poland.
