Italy fines Amazon 10 million euros for alleged unfair commercial practices


FILE PHOTO: Flags flutter outside a distribution centre, during a strike at Amazon's logistics operations in Italy, in Passo Corese, Italy March 22, 2021. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust authority has fined two subsidiaries of Amazon 10 million euros ($10.70 million) for alleged unfair commercial practices, the regulator said on Wednesday.

According to the watchdog, Amazon has "significantly restricted consumers freedom of choice" by automatically pre-setting the 'Subscribe&Save' option, for regular scheduled deliveries rather than one-off purchases, for a wide selection of products.

"The pre-ticking of recurring purchase induces one to periodically buy a product - even without the effective need - thus limiting one's freedom of choice," the antitrust said in a statement.

Amazon was not immediately available for comment.

($1 = 0.9350 euros)

(Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; editing by Giulia Segreti)

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