Is Amazon ethical?

Amazon Ads offers advertising products and solutions (Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, Brand Stores) and a DSP for advertisers to reach customers across Amazon and partner placements.

Software & cloud

Penalized for worker-protection violations — 5 findings

Fair labor & sourcing

Amazon.Com Services, LLC Final Order Imposes $365 Penalty

A final order against Amazon.Com Services, LLC imposed a $365 penalty. The final order is dated October 21, 2025.

21 October 2025

From OSHA data, retrieved 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · osha.gov

Fair labor & sourcing

Amazon record lists current penalty $4,905.00

A public record entry for Amazon lists current penalty as $4,905.00; standard cited as 19100037 A03 Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes; citation type as Other.

19 September 2025

From OSHA data, retrieved 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · osha.gov

Fair labor & sourcing

Amazon record lists current penalty $2,232.00

A public record entry for Amazon lists current penalty as $2,232.00; standard cited as 19040029 B03 Forms; citation type as Other.

2025

From OSHA data, retrieved 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · osha.gov

Fair labor & sourcing

Amazon record lists current penalty $948.50

A public record entry for Amazon lists current penalty as $948.50; standard cited as 19040004 A Recording criteria; citation type as Other.

22 July 2024

From OSHA data, retrieved 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · osha.gov

Fair labor & sourcing

Amazon record lists current penalty $0.00

A public record entry for Amazon lists current penalty as $0.00; standard cited as 19100303 B02 General; citation type as Other.

2024

From OSHA data, retrieved 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · osha.gov

Corporate accountability

Amazon to pay $2.25 million in FTC settlement over FCRA violation

Amazon will pay $2.25 million in civil penalties to settle FTC allegations that it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by refusing to provide transaction records to consumers whose personal information was used by identity thieves to commit fraud.

Checked 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · ftc.gov

Amazon will pay $2.25 million in civil penalties to settle FTC allegations that the online retail giant knowingly violated the 609(e) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act by refusing to provide transaction records to consumers whose personal information was used by identity thieves to commit fraud.

Recalls a product over a documented safety risk — 3 findings

Corporate accountability

Amazon recalls Amazon Go Tzatziki Dip with Veggies over Listeria contamination

Amazon recalls Amazon Go Tzatziki Dip with Veggies, 6.2 oz, due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Recall number F-0206-2020 was initiated on November 6, 2019 and later terminated.

6 November 2019

From FDA data, retrieved 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · api.fda.gov

Corporate accountability

Amazon Recalls Amazon Basics Premium Foam Eurotop Mattresses for Fire Hazard

Amazon recalls Amazon Basics Premium Foam Eurotop Mattresses due to a fire hazard. The recall was announced July 31, 2025.

31 July 2025

From CPSC data, retrieved 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · www.cpsc.gov

Corporate accountability

Amazon recalls portable power banks due to fire and chemical burn hazards

Amazon recalls portable power banks over fire and chemical burn hazards, recall 18-728, announced March 13, 2018.

13 March 2018

From CPSC data, retrieved 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · www.cpsc.gov

Corporate accountability

New Jersey AG sues Amazon under federal antitrust law

The New Jersey attorney general filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against Amazon, accusing it of abusing market power to suppress pay for delivery companies and their drivers.

Checked 29 August 2026 News · nytimes.com

New Jersey’s attorney general sued Amazon under federal antitrust law on Tuesday, accusing the company of abusing its market power to suppress pay for delivery companies and their drivers that bring packages to customers’ doorsteps.

An injury rate worse than its industry — 2 findings

Fair labor & sourcing

Amazon faces 6.6 serious injuries per 100 workers rate

This rate was more than double the 3.2 serious injuries per 100 workers recorded for all non-Amazon warehouses.

2022

Checked 29 August 2026 News · cnbc.com

In 2022, there were 6.6 serious injuries for every 100 Amazon workers, according to a report released Wednesday from the union coalition Strategic Organizing Center, which relies on data submitted by Amazon to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. That's more than double the rate of all non-Amazon warehouses, which had 3.2 serious injuries for every 100 workers.

Fair labor & sourcing

Amazon warehouse workers injured with 6.8 per 100 rate vs industry 3.3

An analysis shows Amazon injury rates at facilities rose 20% from 2020 to 2021, with 6.8 injuries per 100 workers, about twice the 3.3 per 100 for other warehouse employers.

Checked 29 August 2026 Source · warehouseworkers.org

— A disturbing analysis of newly released Amazon injury records shows that injury rates at its facilities increased by a staggering 20 percent from 2020 to 2021. The report finds Amazon warehouse workers were seriously injured at twice the rate of other warehouse employers at 6.8 per 100 workers, as compared to 3.3 per 100 for all other employers in the warehouse industry.

Faces privacy enforcement action or allegations — 2 findings

Data privacy

Biometric privacy cases filed against Amazon by private litigants

Private litigants filed biometric privacy cases against Amazon beginning in June 2019 in federal and state courts, including Hogan v. Amazon.com, Inc., alleging that Amazon's collection, storage, use, retention, and protection of biometric identifiers violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

June 2019

Checked 29 August 2026 Government filing · sec.gov

Beginning in June 2019 with Wilcosky v. Amazon.com, Inc., now pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (“N.D. Ill.”), private litigants have filed a number of cases in U.S. federal and state courts, including Hogan v. Amazon.com, Inc. (N.D. Ill.), alleging, among other things, that Amazon’s collection, storage, use, retention, and protection of biometric identifiers violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

2019

Checked 29 August 2026 Government filing · sec.gov

Beginning in June 2019 with Wilcosky v. Amazon.com, Inc., now pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (“N.D. Ill.”), private litigants have filed a number of cases in U.S. federal and state courts, including Hogan v. Amazon.com, Inc. (N.D. Ill.), alleging, among other things, that Amazon’s collection, storage, use, retention, and protection of biometric identifiers violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.

Data privacy

Amazon sued over alleged location-tracking and data selling without consent

A new lawsuit alleges Amazon secretly tracked consumers' locations via mobile apps and sold the data without consent. The complaint was filed in a San Francisco federal court on Jan. 29.

Checked 29 August 2026 News · san.com

Amazon is facing a new lawsuit over allegations that it secretly tracked consumers’ locations and sold their data without consent. The complaint, filed Wednesday, Jan. 29, in a San Francisco federal court, claims the tech giant embedded tracking software into mobile apps to collect location data.

Ukraine / Russia

Amazon commits over $75 million to Ukraine relief

Amazon committed more than $75 million in support to help Ukraine, including medical supplies, blankets, food, toys, books, educational devices, and cloud computing support for government and institutions, aimed at immediate and long-term needs for Ukrainians and refugees.

Checked 29 August 2026 Company statement · aboutamazon.eu

To date, Amazon has committed more than $75 million in support to help the people of Ukraine address both immediate and long-term needs. Amazon’s support includes the donation of millions of critical relief products—from medical supplies for Ukraine hospitals to blankets, food, toys, and books for refugees crossing the border to devices to help Ukrainian children continue their education as well as cloud computing support to help the government preserve vital Ukrainian government, education, and banking institution data, and more.

Checked 29 August 2026 Source · honorsofdistinctionmag.com

To date, Amazon has committed more than $75 million in support to help the people of Ukraine address both immediate and long-term needs. Amazon’s support includes the donation of millions of critical relief products—from medical supplies for Ukraine hospitals to blankets, food, toys, and books for refugees crossing the border to devices to help Ukrainian children continue their education as well as cloud computing support to help the government preserve vital Ukrainian government, education, and banking institution data, and more.

Reproductive rights

Amazon donates $974,718 to abortion-opposing political committees

Amazon donated $974,718 to political committees that oppose abortion since 2016, including $789,718 to the RGA, $110,000 to the RSLC, and $75,000 to the NRSC, per Popular Information's analysis.

2016

Checked 29 August 2026 Trade press · businessinsider.com

Since 2016, Amazon has donated $974,718 to political committees that oppose abortion, including $789,718 to the RGA, $110,000 to the RSLC, and $75,000 to the NRSC, Popular Information's analysis showed.

Political lean

Amazon donates $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund

Amazon donated $1 million to Donald Trump's inaugural fund.

Checked 29 August 2026 Source · wionews.com

E-commerce giant Amazon is donating $1 million to United States President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund.

Checked 29 August 2026 News · variety.com

Amazon and Meta, seeking to get in Donald Trump’s good graces, are each giving $1 million to the president-elect’s inauguration fund.

Immigration & refugees

Amazon backs immigration reform including Dreamers pathway

Amazon stated it supports refugee and humanitarian-based immigrant populations and lobbies for immigration reform. The reforms include a legal pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and changes to green-card and high-skilled visa programs.

Checked 29 August 2026 Company statement · aboutamazon.com

We support our refugee and humanitarian-based immigrant population because we recognize the challenges they face in the U.S. We support and lobby for immigration reform, including a legal pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and reforms to the green card and high-skilled visa programs.

Diversity & inclusion

Amazon ends some diversity and inclusion programs

Amazon.com ends some of its diversity and inclusion programs.

Not checked yet Source · marketscreener.com

Amazon.com is ending some of its diversity and inclusion programs, the company said in a December memo to employees seen by Reuters on Friday.

Diversity & inclusion

Amazon publishes EEO-101 workforce demographics

Amazon published the EEO-101 workforce demographics data for 2019 and 2020 after pressure from New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and three NYC Retirement Systems in 2020.

2020

Checked 29 August 2026 Court or regulator · comptroller.nyc.gov

Amazon has publicly released the company’s EEO-101 workforce demographic data for 2019 and 2020 following a concerted push by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and three New York City Retirement Systems.

Economic policy

Amazon raises hourly pay for fulfillment and transportation workers to over $23

Amazon increased hourly pay for fulfillment and transportation employees to over $23 per hour, with total compensation over $30 per hour when benefits are included.

Checked 29 August 2026 News · yahoo.com

Amazon is increasing the average pay of its fulfillment and transportation employees to over $23 per hour, with a total compensation of over $30 per hour when including benefits.

Who is behind Amazon?

Andy Jassy

Chief executive officer
MG

Matt Garman

AWS CEO
JB

Jeff Bezos

Founder
AN

Andrew Ng

Amazon Board Member
Brad Smith

Board member
DP

Daniel P. Huttenlocher

Board member
EC

Edith Cooper

Board member
IN

Indra Nooyi

Board member
JS

Jamie S. Gorelick

Board member
JR

Jon Rubinstein

Board member
JM

Judy McGrath

Board member
KB

Keith B. Alexander

Board member
PS

Patty Stonesifer

Board member
WW

Wendell Weeks

Board member
FV

Francessca Vasquez

AWS VP
PP

Panos Panay

Amazon SVP
SS

Swami Sivasubramanian

AWS VP
UU

Uwem Ukpong

AWS VP of Global Services

No company can pay to be listed, removed, or rated differently — How Choice researches company records. The extension sends a domain, never your browsing history, and your values never leave your device — what Choice stores.

About Amazon

SectorSoftware & cloud
Product classGeneral online marketplace
Business modelAdvertising platform
Entity typePlatform business
Websiteamazon.com
CEOAndy Jassy
Last reviewed2026-08-29

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