Amazon gears up to defend against escalating US antitrust scrutiny

Despite its efforts to ingratiate itself in Washington, Amazon is finding its current reception there markedly more cool than in the Obama era. — AFP

Amazon is gearing up to defend itself against a mushrooming battle over the company’s alleged anticompetitive business practices, in arenas spanning US Congress, federal agencies and state government.

The commerce giant is expanding its legal team, hiring former federal prosecutors and regulators to fill roles that include defending the company against allegations that it unfairly dominates markets. The company has tweaked its public messaging to downplay its role as the world’s largest online retailer. It has also tried to boost its image in Washington, D.C., spending more on federal lobbying in 2020 than ever before.