Page 8 - Kattison Avenue - Fall 2025 - Issue 15

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FTC’s Landmark $2.5 Billion Amazon Settlement (continued)

• Simplify cancellations. A four-page, multi-step cancellation upcoming monopolization trial against Amazon. The settlement
journey is a red flag. Consumers should be able to cancel should be considered within this broader regulatory context.
through the same channel they used to subscribe, without Amazon responded to our reporting with a statement from
unnecessary steps, delays, or unduly aggressive retention spokesperson Mark Blafkin, emphasizing that neither the
tactics.
company nor its executives admitted guilt in the settlement.
• Prioritize transparency. Clearly and conspicuously Blafkin said, “Amazon and our executives have always followed
disclose all material terms, including pricing, auto-renewal the law and this settlement allows us to move forward and
conditions, and any obligations or limitations. focus on innovating for customers. We work incredibly hard to
• Engage leadership in compliance oversight. The FTC’s make it clear and simple for customers to both sign up or cancel
successful pursuit of liability against Amazon executives their Prime membership, and to offer substantial value for our
underscores the need to educate and involve senior many millions of loyal Prime members around the world. We will
leadership in maintaining robust consumer protection continue to do so, and look forward to what we’ll deliver for
practices. Prime members in the coming years.” Full statement here.
• Beware the bad email! The emergence of problematic Amazon also noted that the settlement largely requires the
internal emails is a recurring issue in litigation. At trial, the company to maintain processes already in place, many of which
FTC highlighted emails in which engineers opined that the were implemented years ago. The company stressed that there
added features made cancelling confusing. was no admission of wrongdoing, and explained that it chose to

The Amazon settlement highlights the FTC’s continued attention resolve the case to avoid the cost and uncertainty of prolonged
to dark patterns. It also suggests the company’s strategy to litigation and appeals, while continuing to focus on its customers
resolve a series of cases, which will culminate in the FTC’s and employees.

8 Kattison Avenue | Fall 2025