Amazon’s anti-counterfeit efforts result in $180 million in penalties

As part of the company’s ongoing mission to protect customers and brands from counterfeit products, Amazon said that its Counterfeit Crimes Unit (CCU) has helped secure more than $180 million in court-ordered penalties and resulted in 65 criminal convictions globally. Amazon said that it used AI-driven detection systems keyword and logo analysis, and tools like brand registry and transparency in order to identify the listings of counterfeit products on its platform.

More than 99 per cent of suspected infringing listings were blocked before reaching the Amazon platform, the e-commerce major said in a press release on Thursday, June 26. This, in turn, led to over 200 civil legal actions, as per the company.

The CCU was set up by Amazon five years ago and has since expanded to over 12 countries, including India, China, the US, the UK, and France. The CCU team comprises former prosecutors, law enforcement professionals, and data analysts. It has also partnered with over 50 government agencies, including EUROPOL, the FBI, and US Homeland Security investigations.

The AI boom has also led to a rise in cybercrimes with bad actors like counterfeiters leveraging the technology to evolve their tactics. Amazon’s 2024 Brand Protection Report also reiterates that the threat of counterfeits remains an evolving challenge.

The company plans to continue investing in advanced detection technologies and enforcement strategies, with the goal of driving counterfeits to zero. “We’re constantly enhancing our tools and technology to stay ahead,” it said. 

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