Amazon faces EU antitrust probe over use of data from smaller traders

The European Commission will assess Amazon's 'dual role' as a retailer and host to other sellers.

Amazon.com Inc. becomes the latest U.S technology giant targeted by European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager as the watchdog opened a probe into suspicions the retailer misuses data from smaller traders.

The European Commission will assess the company’s "dual role" as a retailer and host to other sellers, the authority said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. Ramping up scrutiny first mentioned last year allows officials to start to build a case that could ultimately lead to fines or an order to change the way the Seattle-based company operates.

"Amazon appears to use competitively sensitive information -- about marketplace sellers,