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Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
The top antitrust regulator in the European Union said Wednesday she is investigating Amazon's relationship with independent merchants it hosts on its platform.
Why it matters: If this were to turn into a formal investigation, it would represent a major headache for Amazon, as it faces allegations that it has unfair dominance over the market.
What they're saying: EU competition Commissioner Margarethe Vestager pointed to the possibility that Amazon could use data on independent merchants who use its platform to refine its own offerings as a seller itself. She said that "the question here is about the data."
- Vestager said it was "very early days" and that the authorities have not "formally opened the case."
- Amazon declined to comment on the record.
The big picture: Debates over Amazon's dominance have fueled a resurgent antitrust movement in the United States, but European regulators have actually taken action against the tech giants.