Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN) requested on Wednesday for the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to dismiss demands that both Chief Executive Andy Jassy and Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos testify at investigative hearings. The FTC denied this request.
In its review of the sign-up and cancellation processes for its Prime program, Amazon.com Inc questioned the agency’s “burdensome” requirements last month. Amazon Prime members can discontinue their membership at any time.
Jeff Bezos and David Jassy of Amazon.com Inc demanded to testify at an open-ended list of topics
The retailer claimed that the FTC was trying to “harass” Jassy and Bezos by demanding to testify. They asked that their testimony be quashed or, at the very least, delayed until after all other company officials had given testimony. Jassy and Bezos both served as CEO of Amazon at one point.
An order released by the FTC on Wednesday stated, “Amazon.com Inc gives no reason why the Commission must accept anything less than all of the relevant information it may acquire from these two witnesses.”
It stated that Amazon.com Inc has until October 7 to comply with its comprehensive Civil Investigative Demand that was issued on June 30.
Amazon stated on Wednesday that it was “disappointed but not surprised” that the FTC mainly declined to rule against itself. However, the company was pleased that the agency scaled back its biggest requests and will now enable witnesses to choose their counsel.
The company’s statement assists the FTC in its investigation and has provided at least 37,000 pages of information.
An Amazon spokeswoman mentioned that the company is committed to engaging constructively with FTC officials. However, they continue to be concerned that the most recent requests are extensive and needlessly burdensome and that they will investigate all available alternatives.
Amazon stated in its statement from the previous month that the commission initially made an investigative demand for information in March 2021 about the Prime investigation. In June, the commission increased its requests for various non-Prime subscription services.
According to the ruling issued by the FTC, Amazon.com Inc is one of the most successful businesses in the world, with expected net revenue of more than $32 billion in 2021 and more than 1.6 million employees.
Image: Megapixl © Wolterk
Author Valerie Remorosa 
