FTC and 22 states sue Amazon over alleged secret ad surcharge scheme

cbsnews.com·Aimee Picchi·2026-08-31T19:20:00.000Z
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Investigative Journalism

This article is investigative reporting that documents findings through evidence and sourcing. It is not considered a psychological operation.

This article is not considered a psychological operation. It reports on a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission and 22 states against Amazon, alleging the company misled advertisers by inflating prices in its online ad auctions despite claiming to use a standard second-price model. The investigation reveals internal Amazon communications suggesting awareness of the deception and efforts to avoid detection, with officials arguing the practice drove up consumer prices.

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