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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

House panel wants Bezos to testify in antitrust probe

This photo from June 19, 2019, shows Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in Boston. House lawmakers are asking Bezos to appear to testify about competition practices. (Charles Krupa / AP)
By Marcy Gordon Associated Press

WASHINGTON – House lawmakers investigating the market dominance of Big Tech are asking Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to testify to address possible misleading statements by the company on its competition practices.

In a letter to Bezos on Friday, leaders of the House Judiciary Committee are holding out the threat of a subpoena if he doesn’t agree voluntarily to appear.

Amazon used sensitive information about sellers on its marketplace, their products and transactions to develop its own competing products, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report. An Amazon executive denied such a practice in statements at a committee hearing last July, saying the company has a formal policy against it.

Amazon spokesmen had no immediate comment.