⚖️📦 EU court upholds Amazon's VLOP designation under DSA
Oneliner
The EU General Court has upheld Amazon's designation as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act, rejecting the company's appeal against stringent regulations. The court ruled that the DSA's requirements are justified to mitigate systemic risks posed by large platforms. Amazon has two months to appeal to the European Court of Justice. The ruling reinforces the EU's commitment to stricter digital regulations aimed at protecting users from illegal content and ensuring accountability among major online platforms.
Key points
- The EU General Court confirmed Amazon's classification as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act.
- Amazon has two months to appeal the ruling to the European Court of Justice.
- The court emphasized that the DSA's requirements are justified to mitigate systemic risks posed by large platforms.
- Amazon argued that the DSA infringes on its business rights but the court ruled in favor of public interest.
Links
- Euractiv: EU court rejects Amazon's appeal against online governance rules designation | Euractiv
- Euronews: Amazon loses legal challenge to EU's strictest digital rules
- Tagesschau (ARD): Amazon laut EU-Gericht zu Recht "sehr große Plattform"
- France 24: Un tribunal reafirma que Amazon debe cumplir las normas digitales más estrictas de la UE
Facts
- Amazon is classified as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act.
- The DSA applies to platforms with over 45 million monthly users in the EU.
- Amazon has two months to appeal the ruling to the European Court of Justice.
- The court emphasized that the DSA's requirements are necessary to mitigate systemic risks.
Quotes
- We are disappointed with this ruling and intend to appeal — Amazon spokesperson.
- The distinction made in the DSA between online platforms based on their number of users is neither arbitrary nor manifestly inappropriate — EU General Court ruling.
Justification
- We reviewed 4 verified sources to assemble this distillation.
- Our relevance model assessed the public-interest weight of this topic at 5.00.
- AI narrative synopsis: General Court rulings rejecting Amazon’s challenges to its designation as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act: court upheld Commission’s 2023 designation, confirmed stricter transparency, cooperation and data‑access obligations, Amazon may appeal to the European Court of Justice; actors: Amazon, European Commission, EU General Court; impact on platform regulation and enforcement across the single market.
Disagree with this AI read, or curious how DistilledNews applies LLMs? Reach the editor at paulo@distillednews.eu.
Score
- Classification: critical for public life (anchored in EU/European institutions).
- Freshness: 100%.
- Novelty: 75%.
- Density: 80%.
- Weighted salience: 79%.
- Lifecycle stage: approved.
- Why it matters: High importance; recent ruling impacts platform regulation.
Disagree with this AI scoring, or want to dig into our LLM workflow? Email the editor at paulo@distillednews.eu.
Article
🎁 This is the unlocked freebie of the day
Enjoy full access (Expert view) to this distillation.
The EU's General Court has upheld the European Commission's designation of Amazon as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (DSA), rejecting the company's appeal against the stringent regulations that accompany this classification. The ruling, delivered on November 19, 2025, confirms that Amazon must comply with the DSA's strictest measures, which are designed to mitigate systemic risks associated with platforms that have over 45 million monthly users in the EU.
What changed
Amazon had contested the Commission's 2023 decision, arguing that the DSA's requirements, including enhanced transparency obligations and data access rules, infringe on its fundamental rights, particularly its freedom to conduct business. However, the court found that the DSA's provisions are necessary to protect users from illegal content and products online, stating that the classification of platforms based on user numbers is neither arbitrary nor inappropriate.
Who decided
The ruling was made by the EU's General Court, which serves as the lower chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union. The court emphasized that all VLOPs are treated uniformly due to their potential to expose large numbers of users to illegal content. The judges noted that while the DSA imposes additional costs on Amazon, such interference is justified under the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Next steps
Amazon has expressed disappointment with the ruling and intends to appeal to the European Court of Justice within the next two months. The company maintains that its platform does not pose systemic risks and that the DSA's requirements could disadvantage it compared to local competitors not subject to the same regulations. Amazon's legal challenges follow a similar case involving Zalando, which also faced dismissal of its appeal against VLOP designation.
Implications for digital regulation
This ruling reinforces the EU's commitment to regulating large online platforms more stringently, aiming to ensure user safety and accountability. The DSA, which came into effect in 2023, mandates VLOPs to conduct annual risk assessments and implement measures to counter illegal content. The court's decision is seen as a significant step in the EU's broader strategy to enhance digital governance and protect consumers in the online marketplace.