Amazon Sets New Lobbying Record Amid Antitrust Scrutiny

Amazon spent a record $4.38 million on lobbying during the second quarter, according to a spokeswoman, as the e-commerce giant faced increasing antitrust scrutiny in Washington and the challenges of delivering goods to Americans stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic, reported Bloomberg. 

The spending for the three months ending June 30 was up more than 9% from the same period a year ago, and represented a slight increase from its previous record in the first quarter, according to lobbying disclosures filed with Congress.

Amazon, alongside Alphabet’s Google, Apple and Facebook, is facing investigations into whether it abuses its power to stifle competition. At the same time, people increasingly rely on the services that big tech companies provide, such as Amazon’s delivery of essentials, in the midst of lockdown orders.

The company is preparing for Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos to testify next week alongside the other three big tech CEOs in what will be Bezos’s first appearance before Congress. He’s slated to appear before the House antitrust subcommittee, whose chairman, Democratic Representative David Cicilline, has criticized Amazon’s role as a marketplace for third-party merchants that it may also compete against.

Full Content: Bloomberg

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