Amazon Faces Class Action Lawsuits, Receives Trial Date, and Revises Ring Policies

A roundup Fill in some text

[{"selector":"#anim-14e9e4b2-f361-4cc8-aaf6-04152a501481","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.45614%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b480a6f-8573-42b0-a88d-07d8e432dc14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fc3c8e7-38f4-452a-a7a5-c80b7360e21f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Amazon faced recent proposed class action lawsuits and scheduled a bench trial date.

The lawsuits revolve around allegations concerning Amazon's "Buy Box" algorithms, ad-free video charges for Prime members, and pandemic-related work-from-home pay.

[{"selector":"#anim-8e2d7095-b0cf-460f-a1c3-e27f1bb3b262","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(110.55718%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7041ae58-de2f-4519-9384-82aa5b22c44f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41df8b7e-7c54-4512-893a-f627341c8230","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The complaints are being addressed in U.S. federal courts.

[{"selector":"#anim-4f0d6683-7dfe-49d8-a2ff-f03999a6f88c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-124.18773%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a2efc00-708b-446c-888c-3f81f4c7878a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-158df4b0-fdff-4a20-8764-b74ec93042f9","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Two consumers initiated a lawsuit against Amazon, claiming biased algorithms favor certain sellers in the "Buy Box."

[{"selector":"#anim-f4034d03-afec-4a7f-937c-a0d31a94045e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72a7f06d-c204-4113-98ff-89b7f2ccc273","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d16fbee4-2d37-4efa-80ae-9ffe87e90b92","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

They argue the algorithm prioritizes Amazon's first-party retailers and third-party sellers using Amazon's Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service.

[{"selector":"#anim-9e064382-303d-4cb6-8270-0585e0d54dee","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.95328%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa7e475a-00b6-4f8d-ba3d-bcb992a32933","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b26fd67e-d7aa-4ece-8cf3-7ab54e46233e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] “Many things in life inspire philanthropy, such as your faith in humanity and your belief in the human spirit to overcome.”

[{"selector":"#anim-8824bcee-1704-4f24-ab08-513be00e2405","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(108.54702%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5f8e2b20-fe1b-4167-b69b-46d1a6346361","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f6adc6e7-8296-4e75-9fe1-3561832cfb9b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] According to the class action, consumers opt for Buy Box items 98% of the time, alleging Amazon manipulates prices to boost profits.

Another class action lawsuit alleges Amazon started charging Prime members for ad-free videos, contrary to previous agreements.

[{"selector":"#anim-b2ed030c-a0a1-4ac5-a8d9-26f4c78af3b9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-108.21529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e913247d-8f58-45ac-9aaf-4dee7f2439de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ee9ee55c-8a71-4094-a3a4-2fe62f6461af","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

The lawsuit argues subscribers shouldn't be charged extra for a service already included in their subscription.

[{"selector":"#anim-00320325-3df0-47cd-8335-dd0bfe5a861a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.39563%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31a46530-fed3-4363-b784-e5d7c811c9e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8002536-1da1-406e-97fc-b6ef90252566","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

A former Amazon employee filed a lawsuit alleging underpayment of remote workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[{"selector":"#anim-1afd0b72-b84f-449c-8359-101f5101319a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.60509%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dec5f755-7cdd-4373-bdb3-97167c213a71","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82b40e51-5674-4044-a54c-184b7773e6fb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}]

Amazon Ring suspended a tool allowing public safety agencies access to doorbell footage amidst privacy concerns, while a trial date has been set for claims of monopolization by Amazon in the online retail market.

[{"selector":"#anim-4f6b4121-dec1-4225-8140-77ad8c9f4c08","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(104.40771%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5bcbc473-b241-447c-9ec7-9663540beac9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01e4debf-02a4-4972-8a1d-a54d8ccde200","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] “Many things in life inspire philanthropy, such as your faith in humanity and your belief in the human spirit to overcome.”

Arrow Arrow Learn more