"Amazon's action against the (European) Commission's decision designating the platform Amazon Store as a 'very large online platform' is dismissed," the Luxembourg-based General Court ruled.

Amazon took umbrage with the European Union's behemoth Digital Services Act (DSA), which demands online platforms better protect users and that marketplaces counter the spread of illegal goods and content online.

Under the DSA, the commission has a list of "very large online platforms" which have more than 45 million monthly active users in the European Union and, because of their size, face tougher rules than smaller digital players.

The General Court -- the lower chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union -- said Amazon contested the lawfulness that imposed "specific obligations of transparency, cooperation and access to data".

The company accused Brussels of infringing several rights guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including among others the freedom to conduct a business, freedom of expression and information, and the protection of confidential information.

The court said that while the rules interfered with certain freedoms including the freedom to conduct a business and potentially freedom of expression, this was "justified" because of the law's objectives.

raz/ec/cw

Amazon.com