EU court turns down Amazon’s request to delay online ad rules

The tech company expresses its dissatisfaction with the ruling

A legal defeat thwarted Amazon’s attempt to postpone complying with some of the European Union’s latest content moderation legislation. 

The U.S.-based e-commerce giant argued that adhering to the Digital Services Act (DSA)’s requirement that its online ad repository be publicly accessible would encroach on its fundamental rights to privacy and business operations. 

Vice President Lars Bay Larsen of the Court of Justice dismissed Amazon’s plea to halt the DSA’s enforcement until its primary legal challenge was resolved.

In a Wednesday press release, Larsen cautioned that such a delay could defer the law’s impact “potentially for several years,” jeopardizing endeavors to enhance the safety of online platforms. 

Amazon seeks to reverse a European Commission ruling that categorizes it as a significantly sizeable online platform necessitating additional responsibilities in combating illicit items, unsafe products, and harmful content.

The corporation also petitioned the court to temporarily halt two requirements concerning its ad library and recommendation algorithms. 

James Lewis, an Amazon spokesperson, contended that Amazon does not qualify as a notably large online platform and should not have been classified as such. 

“We are displeased with this ruling,” Lewis expressed, adding: “Ensuring customer safety is a paramount concern for us at Amazon, and we are actively collaborating with the (Commission) to fulfill our obligations under the DSA.” 

Previously, the EU’s lower tribunal denied Amazon’s plea to suspend its recommendation algorithm but assented to temporarily suspending the ad library regulation. The European Commission has challenged the suspension. 

Source: Newsroom