Amazon Sues Perplexity Over AI Shopping Agent That Secretly Accessed Customer Accounts

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Amazon has filed a lawsuit against Perplexity AI, accusing the fast-growing startup of illegally accessing Amazon customer accounts through its automated “agentic” shopping feature. The complaint, filed Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in California, claims Perplexity’s Comet browser and AI agent disguised automated activity as human browsing to place orders on behalf of users.

The dispute marks a major flashpoint in the debate over regulating AI “agents” — autonomous digital assistants that can navigate websites, make purchases, and perform other online tasks on users’ behalf. Amazon said Perplexity’s technology posed security risks and had repeatedly ignored requests to stop unauthorized activity on its platform.

“Perplexity’s misconduct must end,” Amazon said in its filing, adding that the startup’s software “purposely disguised its automated activity” and that its actions were “no less unlawful” than a physical break-in.

Perplexity, whose AI tools have surged in popularity amid the rise of conversational assistants, previously dismissed Amazon’s complaints, calling them an attempt to stifle innovation and protect its ad-driven business model. “Bullying is when large corporations use legal threats to block innovation,” the startup said in an earlier blog post.

Amazon argued that Perplexity’s AI agent interfered with its ability to deliver a personalized shopping experience, undermining systems built over decades. The company added that third-party apps making purchases for users must act transparently and respect site policies.

Perplexity said its Comet AI assistant allows users to shop and compare products autonomously, while keeping login credentials stored locally, not on company servers. It argued that consumers have the right to choose their own AI shopping tools — a stance that could shape future legal battles over the limits of AI automation in e-commerce.

Paramount+ Secures Five-Year Deal to Stream PBR’s “Unleash the Beast” Bull Riding Series

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Paramount+ will become the new streaming home of Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) premier competition series, “Unleash the Beast,” under a five-year media rights deal announced Wednesday by Skydance-owned Paramount and PBR.

The agreement will see Paramount+ stream live coverage of the elite bull riding circuit beginning in December, featuring the world’s top 35 riders as they compete across 17 U.S. states for prize money and championship points. “Unleash the Beast” will also continue its broadcast presence on CBS Sports, which has aired PBR events since 2013.

The deal marks another major shift in live sports programming toward streaming platforms, as media companies vie for premium events to attract subscribers. CBS will retain coverage of PBR’s “Game of the Week” through the 2026 season, ensuring the sport maintains a dual presence on traditional television and digital streaming.

PBR is part of TKO Group Holdings, which recently signed a seven-year, $7.7 billion exclusive broadcasting deal with Paramount for U.S. coverage of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) starting in 2026.

“Unleash the Beast” will kick off its 2026 season in December in Manchester, New Hampshire, blending PBR’s rugged live energy with Paramount+’s growing lineup of live sports offerings.

Motion Picture Association Orders Meta to Drop “PG-13” Label from Instagram Teen Filters

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The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Meta, accusing the social media giant of misleadingly using the film industry’s “PG-13” rating in its new content filters for teen users on Instagram. The group said Meta’s claim that its filters are modeled on the movie rating system is “literally false and highly misleading.”

Meta announced last month that it would restrict what users under 18 see on Instagram by applying filters “inspired by the PG-13 rating system.” The MPA, however, says the comparison is inappropriate, emphasizing that its rating process involves a curated, consensus-driven assessment by human reviewers — not automated algorithms.

In an October 28 letter to Meta Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead, the MPA demanded that the company immediately stop using the “PG-13” mark and disassociate its Teen Accounts and AI moderation tools from the film rating system, warning that unauthorized use could undermine public trust in movie ratings. The association asked Meta to resolve the issue by November 3.

A Meta spokesperson said the company had no intention of implying a partnership with the MPA and hopes to “work constructively” with the association to address concerns. Meta said the filter initiative was designed to give parents greater control over what teenagers see on its platforms.

The dispute comes as Meta faces growing scrutiny from regulators and advocacy groups over the safety of its younger users. The company has also faced lawsuits alleging that its social platforms expose minors to harmful content.