FTC accuses Amazon executives of using Signal to destroy evidence

FTC accuses Amazon executives of using Signal to destroy evidence
27 Apr 2024

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US, has submitted a filing, accusing senior executives at Amazon of using the Signal app's disappearing messages facility to destroy evidence.

This evidence is reportedly crucial to a significant antitrust lawsuit filed in September 2023.

The Washington Post suggests that this practice is not exclusive to Amazon, with several other companies also allegedly using encrypted messaging apps like Signal, that can permanently delete messages.

Take a look at the lawsuit details
Scenario

The FTC, and over a dozen state attorneys general, began an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that the e-commerce giant unlawfully exploited its market dominance to quash potential competitors.

The lawsuit focused on aspects of Amazon's operations catering to consumers and sellers.

FTC mainly accused Amazon of penalizing sellers who provide cheaper products on alternative platforms, and limiting the eligibility of sellers for Prime shipping privileges.

Additionally, the commission challenged Amazon's ability to manipulate search results to prioritize its products.

Amazon's founder, current CEO, and general counsel used Signal
Key figures

Prominent figures within Amazon, including ex-CEO Jeff Bezos, current CEO Andy Jassy, general counsel David Zapolsky, and Dave Clark, former CEO of worldwide operations, have been identified by the FTC's lawyers as heavy users of Signal.

The FTC alleges that Amazon didn't instruct its employees to retain messages, sent until more than 15 months after being informed of the investigation.

"It is highly likely that relevant information has been destroyed as a result of Amazon's actions and inactions," says FTC.

FTC accuses Amazon of continuing to auto-delete its communications
Investigation

The FTC is now investigating Amazon's efforts to preserve documents to determine the extent of potential information loss.

Despite requests last year, for relevant documents regarding Amazon's guidance to employees about ephemeral apps, the FTC alleges that Amazon has largely declined to provide the requested materials.

Court documents reveal that the FTC accuses Amazon of continuing to auto-delete its communications, even after being informed of the investigation and asked to retain them.

Federal judge's intervention requested to compel Amazon
Legal action

The FTC want a federal judge's intervention to compel Amazon to produce documents related to its data handling practices.

The agency asserts that Amazon did not disclose its use of Signal until March 2022, just before a WSJ article exposed this covert practice.

The article read, "From the messages that were not deleted, it is apparent that Amazon executives used Signal to talk about competition-related business issues."