European Commission Pressures Amazon to Comply with Digital Services Act
The European Commission is continuing its efforts to ensure that all online players comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA). In its latest move, the Commission has requested that Amazon provide further information on the measures it has taken to implement the DSA.
Amazon Faced with Request for Additional Information
On July 5, the Commission requested that Amazon submit detailed information on its compliance with the provisions relating to the transparency of recommendation systems, including the input factors, characteristics, signals, information, and metadata applied to such systems, as well as the options offered to users to opt out of being profiled for recommendation systems. The company is also being asked to provide more information about the design, development, implementation, testing, and maintenance of its online interface, including the Amazon Store Ads Library and supporting documents relating to its risk assessment report.
Deadline for Response Set
Amazon must provide all the requested information to the European Commission by July 26. Failure to comply could result in the formal opening of proceedings under Article 66 of the Digital Services Act.
Amazon’s Attempt to Exempt itself from DSA Regulations Rejected
In a previous move, Amazon had attempted to apply to the court to be exempted from complying with the DSA, citing concerns that the disclosure of some data would violate its own fundamental rights to data protection and freedom of business. However, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rejected this demand, stating that allowing the suspension would cause a delay in the achievement of the objectives of the Regulation on the Single Market for Digital Services.
Next Steps for the Commission
The Commission will now analyze the responses and determine its next steps. This could lead to severe sanctions, including fines of up to 6% of annual turnover. The executive authority will also be able to impose fines for incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in the responses to the request for information.