The European Commission has announced a probe into Amazon to determine how the company's consumer protection measures align with the new EU internet regulation law. The investigation will focus on Amazon's risk assessment and mitigation measures regarding the dissemination of illegal products and the protection of fundamental rights, according to a statement from the commission. Additionally, the commission will examine Amazon's personalized product recommendation system and the options available to users to refuse such recommendations.

Amazon has until December 6 to respond to the request for information. In response to the probe, Amazon stated that it is reviewing the request and working closely with the European Commission. The company emphasized its significant investments in protecting its store from illegal content and in creating a trustworthy shopping experience. Amazon also highlighted its efforts to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA). It is important to note that the investigation is merely an initial step permitted under the DSA and does not indicate any legal violations or imminent punishment. The European Commission has launched several other investigations into major online platforms to assess their compliance with the DSA.

Similar probes have been initiated against AliExpress, a Chinese rival of Amazon, to ensure consumer protection from the sale of illegal products. Additionally, investigations focused on addressing online misinformation and illegal content have been launched against X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Meta, and YouTube. Platforms found to violate the DSA could face fines from the EU, potentially reaching up to six percent of their global turnover. The purpose of these probes is to ensure that online platforms uphold the standards outlined in the DSA and safeguard consumer rights in the digital space.