California investigators are examining Amazon’s business practices as part of a larger inquiry into the tech giant.
The review will focus partly on how the company treats sellers in its online marketplace, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke with the Wall Street Journal. The investigation will include looking at Amazon’s practices for selling its own products in competition with third-party sellers. Neither Amazon nor California have disclosed an antitrust investigation.
The move comes as Amazon faces antitrust scrutiny from Capitol Hill and abroad, with the European Union planning formal antitrust charges against the company over its treatment of third-party sellers.
The House Judiciary Committee is also seeking examination into Amazon, but lawmakers say the company hasn’t fully responded to requests for information about its relationship to sellers.
Last month, the company sent a letter to the committee saying it would provide significant information to them and is “prepared to make the appropriate Amazon executive available” but fell short of committing to have CEO Jeff Bezos make an appearance.
In December, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra made comments hinting at looking into the company but has declined to comment on the current pursuit.
“It would be hard to believe that you’re not going to look at a company like Amazon, given how pervasive it is,” Becerra said then. “Are they using all of this data in ways that allow them to essentially kill real competition?”
The company hasn’t responded for comment.
