FTC lawsuit alleges Amazon has been ‘secretly and systematically’ overcharging for ads

The FTC and 22 state attorneys general claim Amazon added a concealed “ad surcharge” that raised advertising fees for sellers, passing the cost to consumers. They allege the company violated the FTC Act and numerous state laws by employing “second-price” auctions where winners paid only a cent more than the next highest bid. This action follows Amazon’s recent $2.5 billion settlement with the FTC over Prime subscription practices.