The FTC rejected Amazon's request to quash subpoenas ordering founder Jeff Bezos and CEO Andy Jassy to testify in a Prime investigation
Business InsiderNov 22, 2022
FTC: Amazon's Bezos, Jassy Must Testify in Probe
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The Facts
On Wednesday, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rejected Amazon's bid to quash subpoenas for the company's founder Jeff Bezos and CEO Andy Jassy, ruling that they must testify in its probe regarding Amazon's membership policies.
In March 2021, FTC staff began investigating whether the company deceives its customers into signing up for Amazon Prime and makes it hard to cancel. In June, the investigation expanded to include other Amazon subscription programs, including Audible, Amazon Music, Kindle Unlimited, and Subscribe & Save.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
There's a reason both US and international governments have been investigating Amazon recently, and that is that the whole world is starting to catch on to their nefarious, monopolistic business practices. Agencies like the FTC, as well as other entities, need to push hard against this industry giant to protect consumers and competitors.
Pro-establishment narrative
As Amazon has pointed out before, the unusually hard stance the FTC has taken against it isn't a coincidence. FTC Chair Lina Khan has a personal animus against the company, and her staffers at the agency are simply soldiers helping her pursue this vendetta against Bezos.