Amazon Challenges EU’s ‘Very Large Online Platform’ Label, Citing Lack of Systemic Risk
Amazon has asked Europe’s General Court in Luxembourg to overturn its designation as a “very large online platform” (VLOP) under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The U.S. e-commerce giant argues that it does not pose systemic risks to users that would justify the stricter regulatory requirements imposed by the label.
The DSA, which came into force in 2022, targets large tech companies, requiring those classified as VLOPs to implement enhanced measures to combat illegal and harmful content. These measures include comprehensive risk management, independent auditing, and data sharing with regulators and researchers.
Amazon’s legal counsel, Robert Spano, told the court that online marketplaces like Amazon’s store do not create systemic risks, and that VLOP rules are ineffective in preventing the spread of illegal or counterfeit goods on such platforms. He emphasized that any risks are limited to individual customers rather than the platform’s entire user base, and existing product safety laws already address these issues.
Spano criticized the use of size as a metric for risk, describing it as “arbitrary, disproportionate and discriminatory.”
The court is expected to deliver its verdict in the coming months.
Other major tech companies, including Meta Platforms, TikTok, and German retailer Zalando, have also contested aspects of the DSA.