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Amazon Takes EU to Court Over ‘Very Large Online Platform’ Status

By  |  June 12, 2025

Amazon appeared before Europe’s second-highest court on Thursday to contest its designation under the European Union’s new content regulation framework, the Digital Services Act (DSA), arguing that the classification is unwarranted and disproportionate.

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    According to Reuters, the U.S.-based retail giant is pushing back against the European Commission’s decision to list it as a “very large online platform” (VLOP). This designation places Amazon among a group of digital heavyweights required to comply with stricter content moderation, risk assessment, and transparency obligations under the DSA, which came into effect in 2022.

    Amazon’s case was presented before the General Court in Luxembourg, where its legal representative asserted that the company does not pose broad dangers to internet users. Per Reuters, Amazon’s counsel, Robert Spano, argued that the VLOP designation misapplies the regulation’s purpose by holding Amazon to standards designed for platforms that facilitate the spread of harmful or illegal content.

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    Spano emphasized that any potential risk associated with Amazon’s operations is tied to specific customer interactions rather than systemic issues affecting the platform as a whole. He criticized the VLOP rules for not effectively addressing the distribution of counterfeit or illegal goods and questioned their relevance to online marketplaces like Amazon’s.

    Per Reuters, Amazon maintains that the nature of its business — primarily involving product sales — is already subject to extensive consumer protection and product compliance regulations. The company described the Commission’s criteria as arbitrary, stating that its scale does not equate to increased risk, and labeling the designation as both discriminatory and excessive.

    The European Commission has defended its classification, asserting that the DSA’s heightened standards are necessary to safeguard users and ensure accountability from dominant online platforms.

    Source: Reuters