Senators request FTC probe into Walmart and Amazon over bots' data

FTC: The Federal Trade Commission is an independent US government agency tasked with enforcing antitrust laws, preventing unfair business practices, and protecting consumers from deceptive advertising. It holds jurisdiction over product origin claims such as 'Made in USA' labeling. The senators' request specifically calls on the FTC to investigate potential issues with bot-generated data on Walmart and Amazon platforms. WSJ: The Wall Street Journal is a prominent daily newspaper and digital publication focused on business, finance, and corporate news, published by Dow Jones & Company. It provides in-depth reporting on regulatory and retail developments. This news item is drawn from a WSJ report detailing the senators' request and related findings on shopping bots. Amazon: Amazon.com, Inc. is a leading technology and retail company running one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms alongside AI tools like its Alexa for Shopping agent. It manages vast third-party seller listings and product data. Amazon is directly targeted alongside Walmart in the call for an FTC probe into bot handling of American-made product information. Walmart: Walmart Inc. is a major multinational retailer operating physical stores and online marketplaces with extensive third-party seller ecosystems. Its Sparky AI shopping assistant interacts with customers on product queries including origin information. The company is named in the senators' request to the FTC for scrutiny over how its bots present 'Made in America' claims. Senators: US Senators are elected members of the upper chamber of Congress with authority to oversee federal agencies and request investigations into corporate practices. They frequently engage with issues of consumer protection, fair trade, and regulatory enforcement. In this news, a group of senators has formally asked the FTC to examine Walmart and Amazon regarding the handling of 'Made in America' data by their shopping bots. Regulation: President Trump has directed the FTC to prioritize enforcement actions against false 'Made in USA' claims on online marketplaces. AI Shopping: Retailers' AI assistants demonstrate the technical ability to detect mismatches in product origin claims but have been observed prioritizing business considerations over flagging discrepancies.