FTC and 22 States Sue Amazon for Manipulating Ad Auctions, Seek Damages Over $20 Billion

The US Federal Trade Commission and 22 states have sued Amazon for allegedly manipulating digital ad auctions, overcharging roughly 1.2 million advertising customers by more than $20 billion. The complaint targets three ad products — Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Sponsored Display — and alleges Amazon secretly altered auction results beginning in 2018. Amazon called the lawsuit "misguided" and "flawed."

"Amazon has rigged billions of ad auctions." — California Attorney General Rob Bonta