FTC Alleges Bezos, Jassy Destroyed Text Messages Amid Antitrust Probe

During the FTC's investigation into antitrust allegations against Amazon, the regulatory body has accused Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy, prominent figures within the company, of deleting messages pertinent to the probe. The FTC asserts that Amazon neglected to preserve crucial documents, indicating a breach in compliance with legal requirements.

In a recent development, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accused Amazon's top exclusive of deleting text messages relevant to the ongoing antitrust investigation against the company, including founder Jeff Bezos and CEO Andy Jassy. The FTC claims that Bezos, Jassy, and other Amazon executives utilized the encrypted messaging platform Signal to communicate between April 2019 and May 2022. Utilizing a feature within Signal, Bloomberg reported that these messages were not retained, potentially hindering the FTC's case against the tech giant.

Following a security breach involving Bezos' phone in 2019, Bezos and several other executives purportedly adopted Signal as a communication platform. The move came after the National Enquirer allegedly threatened to expose Bezos' private photos and text messages.

Amazon's Response, Court Examination

Tim Doyle, a spokesman for Amazon, informed that the company had proactively notified the FTC about the use of Signal by Amazon employees years ago. Doyle stated that Amazon had preserved and provided access to these communications for FTC scrutiny. Additionally, he emphasized that the conversations in question were unrelated to the ongoing investigation by the FTC.

Allegedly, the court is examining the timeline of instructions provided by Amazon executives to employees regarding the use of Signal, as well as the directives concerning the preservation of messages sent through the platform.

In 2019, FTC took action by commencing an antitrust investigation into Amazon. This inquiry mandated that the corporation uphold its responsibility to retain all communications and supply pertinent documents to the commission for thorough review and analysis.

Also read: FTC Introduces Rule to Combat Impersonation Scams, Targeting $1.1 Billion Losses in 2023

Authorities cited precedents where Signal was a focal point in legal battles, such as the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried for fraud and the recent legal confrontation between Google and Epic Games. Amidst the scrutiny surrounding Amazon's communication practices, Google has found itself under similar scrutiny.

Allegations have surfaced suggesting that Google directed its employees to use chat platforms with the history function disabled, resulting in messages disappearing after 24 hours. This approach has sparked concerns regarding transparency and accountability within the company's internal communications framework.

Consequently, the Justice Department has intervened, initiating legal action against Google and seeking sanctions for these alleged practices. However, the resolution of this legal dispute awaits a ruling from the court, leaving the outcome uncertain.