The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against Amazon on Wednesday, accusing the company of employing deceptive tactics, known as “dark patterns,” to manipulate customers into signing up for Amazon Prime and making it challenging to cancel their subscriptions. The complaint was accompanied by a photo taken by Friedemann Vogel/EPA-EFE.
The FTC’s action against Amazon stems from an investigation into the company’s practices. The commission alleges that Amazon knowingly deceived millions of customers by enrolling them in Amazon Prime without their consent or knowledge.
In its complaint, the FTC cites violations of the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act. Amazon’s use of “dark patterns,” which are manipulative and deceptive user-interface designs, is said to be in direct violation of these acts.
The FTC Chairperson, Lina Khan, emphasized the negative impact of Amazon’s tactics, stating that they not only frustrate users but also result in significant financial losses for unsuspecting customers.
In September, the FTC published a report on the prevalence of “dark patterns,” highlighting various deceptive techniques used by businesses. This report illustrated how deceptive subscription sellers, like Amazon, can impose recurring payments on consumers for products and services they did not intend to purchase or wish to continue purchasing.
According to the FTC, Amazon’s checkout process incorporates numerous “dark patterns” that promote the subscription to Amazon Prime, often making it more challenging for consumers to complete their purchase without signing up for the service.
Furthermore, the commission alleges that Amazon intentionally designed a convoluted cancellation process for Prime subscriptions, discouraging consumers from successfully unsubscribing.
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