The Federal Trade Commission’s case alleging that Amazon spun a “web of deception” around its Prime service has now officially hit the courtroom. A jury trial began this week to hear claims that the e-commerce giant used manipulative designs to both enroll and retain subscribers against their will.
The government’s lawyers will argue that Amazon’s checkout process was a classic “dark pattern.” They claim the interface was intentionally confusing, leading to “nonconsensual” enrollments by making the Prime sign-up option the path of least resistance for customers simply trying to buy a product.
The trial will also feature a deep dive into the “Iliad” cancellation process, which the FTC describes as a “labyrinthine” ordeal. The government is arguing that this system was a calculated business decision, designed to be so difficult that it would minimize the number of successful cancellations.
This legal battle is a critical part of a broader, bipartisan push in Washington to increase oversight of major technology companies. The FTC is seeking not just financial penalties but also a permanent injunction that would force Amazon to overhaul its subscription practices under the supervision of the court.
Amazon is defending its practices as standard and lawful for the industry. The company’s legal team is expected to argue that the FTC is applying a flawed legal theory and that the allegations are outdated, as Amazon has since made its subscription and cancellation processes more straightforward.