Italy fines Amazon record $1.3 billion for abuse of market dominance

To impose corrective steps; penalty levied one of Europe's biggest ever

Italy’s antitrust watchdog said on Thursday it had fined Amazon 1.13 billion euros ($1.28 billion) for alleged abuse of market dominance, in one of the biggest penalties imposed on a US tech giant in Europe.

Amazon said it “strongly disagreed” with the Italian regulator’s decision and would appeal.

Global regulatory scrutiny of tech giants has been increasing after a string of scandals over privacy and misinformation, as well as complaints from some businesses that they abuse their market power. Other than Amazon, Alphabet’s Google, Facebook Inc , Apple Inc and Microsoft Corp have drawn heightened scrutiny in Europe.

Italy’s watchdog said in a