Amazon faces escalating EU antitrust probe into sales data

The world’s biggest online retailer is one of several technology firms that have attracted the scrutiny of the EU’s powerful competition watchdog. — Reuters

Amazon.com Inc faces a formal antitrust complaint from the European Union, an important step in a long-running investigation that could pave the way for massive fines or changes to the company’s business model.

EU regulators will send Amazon a so-called statement of objections in the coming weeks amid concerns the US retail giant may be shortchanging smaller merchants who sell on its marketplace, according to a person familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity.