Senators ask Jeff Bezos to explain how Amazon recommends products
Two high-profile Senate Democrats are asking Amazon for answers about its “Amazon’s Choice” badge, as it could be deceiving consumers into buying “inferior” products.
In a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Monday, Senators Bob Menendez and Richard Blumenthal asked for more clarity on how the Amazon’s Choice program works, citing a recent BuzzFeed report that showed it often endorses defective or poor quality items.
The senators asked for a “detailed explanation” on the selection process for the Amazon’s Choice badge, including the algorithm used to make the determination and whether employees actually review each item before assigning the distinction. They’re also asking what Amazon is doing to verify user reviews, which could affect what products get the badge, and if any financial compensation is involved in the process.
The letter is the latest example of Washington’s growing concern of Big Tech, specifically regarding the control Amazon has over consumer behavior as more shopping activity moves online and to mobile devices.
An Amazon spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider that it uses investigators and automated technology to prevent and detect fake reviews at scale.
More Amazon news
Shanghai is still under lockdown. Is Guangzhou next?
A shift in China’s COVID-19 policy remains a distant prospect Shanghai is easing its two-week lockdown, but most of its businesses still are closed. The redirection of goods is becoming more difficult and expensive as cargo facilities in other Chinese cities are now...
Amazon will let sellers build independent online stores
Bloomberg reports that Amazon is working on a product that that will let retailers run independent stores. The project hasn’t been announced officially yet, but former company executives told Bloomberg, that Amazon has been working on it since late 2017 and could...
How can New Year holidays in the US and Canada affect cargo delivery dates
Customs and shipping companies working schedule during the New Year Important information for more accurate forecasting of cargo processing speed in the US and Canada during the New Year holidays. Please note that Customs and shipping companies will not work during...