Consumer Watchdog Asks 11 State AGs to Probe Allegations of Amazon Deceptive Pricing

Consumer Watchdog filed petitions with state attorneys general asking them to investigate Amazon for allegedly engaging in deceptive pricing after the company received FTC approval to buy Whole Foods for nearly $14 billion (see 1708230064), said a Thursday news release. CW had asked the commission and DOJ to block the deal (see 1707070048). The group's Privacy Project Director John Simpson said the FTC has a "pattern of leaving high-profile enforcement action to others," citing the EU's antitrust case against Google. The group sent petitions to Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., told a media outlet the FTC's decision was "disappointing" and antitrust policy should reflect more than just impact on price. Amazon and the FTC didn't immediately comment.