Italy's Antitrust Authority Slashes Amazon's €1.13 Billion Fine by a Third

Italy's competition regulator has officially trimmed down one of the most significant antitrust penalties in recent European tech history. The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato announced it reduced the fine imposed on Amazon in 2021 from €1.13 billion to €752 million after recalculating the penalty.

The original fine stemmed from allegations that Amazon abused its dominant position in the e-commerce marketplace by leveraging its logistics service, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), to unfairly advantage its own retail operations while marginalizing third-party sellers who didn't use Amazon's logistics network. The Italian authority argued this created a closed ecosystem where sellers were effectively forced into Amazon's fulfillment services to remain competitive.

This recalculation reflects the complex methodology regulators use when determining appropriate penalties for antitrust violations. The 33% reduction suggests the authority either adjusted its assessment of the duration or severity of the infringement, or recalibrated the financial impact calculations based on revised revenue figures from Amazon's Italian operations during the relevant period.

The case highlights the ongoing tension between European regulators and American tech giants over marketplace dominance. While the reduced fine still represents a substantial financial penalty, it demonstrates that antitrust calculations remain subject to revision and legal challenge. Amazon has consistently maintained that its practices benefit consumers and sellers alike by creating a more efficient marketplace.

For Amazon, the €378 million reduction provides some relief, though the company still faces the fundamental business practice restrictions imposed by the original ruling. The case continues to set precedent for how regulators approach platform economics and the balance between marketplace efficiency and fair competition.

The Italian decision may influence other European jurisdictions currently investigating similar marketplace practices, as it shows that initial penalty calculations can be contested and potentially adjusted through administrative review processes.