FTC v. Amazon over Prime ‘dark patterns’ opens in Seattle jury trial
Jury selection is underway Monday with opening statements Tuesday in Seattle federal court, where U.S. District Judge John Chun is presiding over the FTC’s case accusing Amazon of using “dark patterns” to enroll customers in auto-renewing Prime memberships. Regulators cite checkout designs featuring a large yellow “Get FREE Two-Day Shipping” button versus a smaller “No thanks” link and an allegedly onerous “Iliad Flow” to cancel—four pages, six clicks, fifteen options—with one internal warning that making the process clearer would be an “unspoken cancer” on subscriber growth. Amazon denies wrongdoing; a jury will decide in a trial expected to last up to four weeks, as a separate, broader FTC antitrust case against the company is slated before the same judge in early 2027.
📰 Sources (2)
- Judge identified: U.S. District Judge John Chun is presiding.
- FTC cites specific 'dark pattern' details, including a large yellow 'Get FREE Two-Day Shipping' button versus a smaller 'No thanks' link.
- Alleged cancel flow described as 'four-page, six-click, fifteen-option' and internally nicknamed the 'Iliad Flow.'
- Internal Amazon characterization quoted by FTC as an 'unspoken cancer' if clarity adjustments reduced subscribers.
- Context: A separate, broader FTC antitrust case against Amazon is slated for early 2027 before the same judge.
- Jury selection is scheduled Monday; opening statements Tuesday, in Seattle federal court (W.D. Wash.).
- FTC alleges Amazon’s checkout and cancellation flows deceived users into auto‑renewing Prime memberships.
- Amazon denies the claims; the jury will decide the outcome in a trial expected to last up to four weeks.