The court issues an order prohibiting access to Amazon for Perplexity's AI browser 'Comet,' which can shop on behalf of users, and also requires the destruction of all copies of Amazon's data.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction effective March 9, 2026, temporarily prohibiting
Amazon.com Services LLC v. Perplexity AI, Inc. | Northern District of California | United States District Court
https://cand.uscourts.gov/cases-e-filing/cases/325-cv-09514-mmc/amazoncom-services-llc-v-perplexity-ai-inc
Amazon Wins Court Order to Halt Perplexity's AI Shopping Bots on Marketplace - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-10/amazon-wins-court-order-blocking-perplexity-s-ai-shopping-bots
Amazon wins court order to block Perplexity's AI shopping agent
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/10/amazon-wins-court-order-to-block-perplexities-ai-shopping-agent.html
The order stems from a November 2025 lawsuit filed by Amazon under the Federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and California's Computer Fraud Act, alleging that Perplexity concealed the existence of its AI shopping agent.
Amazon threatens AI browser Perplexity with legal action to stop its AI agents from browsing the web - GIGAZINE
Amazon alleges that Perplexity disguised Comet's automated access as human-like communications via a regular Google Chrome browser and updated its software within just 24 hours to circumvent Amazon's blocking measures implemented in August 2025. Amazon has issued at least five warnings since November 2024, but Perplexity has not complied and continues to access sensitive areas, including password-protected Amazon Prime accounts.
Amazon also pointed out security risks in Comet, including a prompt injection vulnerability that makes it vulnerable to phishing scams, and economic issues, such as the AI agent skipping sponsored ads by directly proceeding to checkout from search results.
Judge Maxine Chesney found the evidence that Amazon had spent more than $5,000 (approximately 770,000 yen) on developing tools to block Comet's access and to detect unauthorized access to the site to be true, and ruled that Amazon was likely to prevail on the merits of the case.
Perplexity argued that 'Comet merely automates user instructions and that access is legitimate with the user's permission,' and criticized Amazon's legal action as a bullying tactic. However, the court rejected Perplexity's argument.
The order prohibits Perplexity and its affiliates from using AI agents to access Amazon's protected systems, creating new accounts, or taking over existing accounts, and requires them to destroy all copies of Amazon data, including any illegally obtained customer data, and to certify in a written declaration that they will do so within 30 days.
The ruling questions the legality of allowing AI agents with user permission to access protected areas without the platform's consent, and could set an important precedent regarding platform control over online commerce in the age of AI.
Perplexity sought a $1 billion bond based on its market value and investments, but the court rejected the request, stating that the injunction would have limited impact on its overall business. The order is valid for seven days to appeal, but Perplexity has issued a statement saying it will 'continue to fight for the right of internet users to choose their preferred AI.'
While Amazon continues to promote its own AI shopping assistant 'Rufus' and new features for Alexa, it is also restricting access by dozens of AI agents, including ChatGPT, and is implementing regulations that will officially require all AI agents to self-identify starting March 4, 2026.
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in AI, Web Service, Posted by log1i_yk