EU Seeks Clarification from Amazon Regarding Customer Protection Measures

The European Commission has issued a deadline of December 6 for Amazon to furnish additional details on the steps it takes to safeguard customers against illegal products.

This directive comes under the newly enacted Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires major online platforms to intensify efforts to remove illegal and harmful content. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in fines of up to 6% of the platform’s global turnover, reported Reuters.

The DSA, implemented recently, targets large online platforms with a minimum of 45 million monthly active users, constituting approximately 10% of the European Union’s population. Amazon, a colossal online retailer, has been summoned to provide clarity on its strategies for protecting consumers in the face of potential illegal product circulation.

Related: Amazon Challenges EU’s ‘Large Online Platform’ Law

This move follows a similar action taken by the European Commission against AliExpress, a Chinese e-commerce platform. Last week, the Commission requested information from AliExpress regarding the measures it employs to shield consumers from illegal products, particularly focusing on the sale of counterfeit medications.

Notably, the Commission has already initiated formal inquiries into other major tech entities. TikTok, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter) were served with requests over concerns related to the dissemination of disinformation, as well as the presence of illegal or violent content on their platforms.

The European Commission wields the authority to impose fines for providing incorrect or misleading information. In case of non-compliance by Amazon, the Commission can escalate its actions by making decisions that may involve penalties.

Source: Reuters