FTC and 22 states unseal details of case over Amazon ad auction price inflation

The FTC⬟ and 22 states have filed an unredacted version of their complaint in the Western District of Washington, alleging Amazon◼ used hidden surcharges to inflate second-price auction costs by up to 50% on normal days and up to 250% on peak days. Alleged internal emails show revenue targets, including a search for $40 million, drove the surcharges, and account managers allegedly denied any auction change when advertisers asked. No CVEs or technical vulnerabilities are involved; the case is consumer protection and deceptive practices litigation.

For security analysts · Written by AI from 1 source · Wrong?