FTC Unseals Details In Amazon Ads Auction Surcharge Suit

The Federal Trade Commission and 22 state attorneys general unsealed updated details in their antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the company secretly inflated online search advertising prices by up to 50% on ordinary days and 250% during major shopping events. The complaint claims Amazon utilized soft reserve pricing tied to internal revenue targets between 2021 and 2023 while misleading advertisers who questioned sudden cost-per-click spikes. Amazon has previously denied deceiving advertisers, maintaining that its reserve pricing ensures brands never pay more than their maximum bids. Open article →