Amazon hit with class actions, gets trial date, updates Ring policies

Amazon class action lawsuits overview: 

• Who: Amazon recently faced proposed class action lawsuits, announced an update to its Amazon Ring policies and received a bench trial date. 
• Why: The class action lawsuits involve claims regarding “Buy Box” algorithms, charges for ad-free videos and work from home pay during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Where: The complaints involving Amazon are in U.S. federal courts.

Amazon faces proposed class action lawsuits, announced an update to its Amazon Ring policies and received a trial date regarding monopolization claims. 

Class action claims Amazon uses biased algorithm when picking featured items

A pair of consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Amazon.com last month, claiming the company uses a biased algorithm when picking items to show in the “Buy Box” on Amazon Marketplace.

The consumers argue Amazon uses an algorithm biased in favor of Amazon first-party retailers and third-party sellers who take part in the company’s logistics service, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). 

“Since at least 2016, Amazon’s Buy Box algorithm has been rigged in favor of offers for which Amazon fulfills and delivers the product, either because Amazon itself is the seller or the seller is a third party that participates in FBA,” the class action states.

Consumers elect to purchase the Buy Box item 98% of the time, according to the Amazon class action, which argues Amazon uses the algorithm to boost its profit margins and keep prices high for consumers. 

Amazon began charging Prime members for ad-free videos, class action claims 

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Amazon in February, claiming the company began charging its Amazon Prime customers $2.99 for ad-free videos, despite the annual plan previously being ad-free for years. 

The class action lawsuit argues Amazon offered ad-free videos as part of its Amazon Prime subscription for more than a decade and the alleged switch-up confused subscribers.

“This is not fair, because these subscribers already paid for the ad-free version; these subscribers should not have to pay an additional $2.99/month for something that they already paid for,” the class action states.

Amazon underpaid employees who worked from home during pandemic, class action alleges

A former Amazon employee filed a class action lawsuit against the company in January, alleging it underpaid employees who worked from home after Amazon closed its Seattle offices during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The class action lawsuit argues Amazon should have paid employees an extra $50 a month to account for extra expenses, including telephone and internet costs, they incurred due to having to work from home Dec. 2020-Feb. 2022. 

“Plaintiff worked remotely from his home address in Seattle, Washington, and incurred necessary business expenses in direct consequence of the discharge of his duties for defendant for which he was not reimbursed,” the class action states. 

Amazon Ring suspends tool giving public safety agencies access to doorbell footage

In January, Amazon Ring announced it suspended a tool that allowed public safety agencies to request and receive doorbell footage through the company’s Neighbors app. 

Ring’s decision to suspend the function, known as the Request for Assistance Tool (RFA), came in the wake of concerns lobbied by privacy watchdog. 

In a blog post, Ring says agencies will still be able to use the Neighbors app to post safety tips, updates and community events. Law enforcement agencies will also still be able to access Ring footage with a search warrant, according to AP News. 

Trial date set for Amazon monopolization claims 

A Washington federal judge set a bench trial date of October 2026 in a lawsuit alleging Amazon monopolized the market for online retail sales by allegedly using a covert algorithm to manipulate other online retailers into increasing their prices. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 17 state attorneys general brought the claims.

The judge directed Amazon and the FTC to complete fact discovery by Aug. 2025 and gave them until the end of last month to file a motion to bifurcate the trial. 

Amazon argues the FTC and state attorneys general target policies that exist so it can promptly match the prices of its competitors. 

Do you believe you have been injured by Amazon? Let us know in the comments.

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