E-commerce giant Amazon has issued a legal warning to Perplexity AI, demanding the company cease and desist operations of its AI-powered shopping agent, Comet, on Amazon’s platform. The letter accuses Perplexity of violating federal and state computer fraud laws by covertly accessing its site, degrading the customer experience, and creating significant security risks.
Unauthorized Access and Deception
Amazon’s legal team alleges that Perplexity has “persistently refused to operate transparently” with its agentic AI product. The core of the complaint is that Perplexity’s Comet AI agent accesses Amazon’s e-commerce store while disguising itself as a standard Google Chrome browser, a direct violation of Amazon’s Conditions of Use.
According to the letter, this covert intrusion violates the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). Amazon claims that after it identified and blocked Comet’s initial activity, Perplexity released a new version of the tool within 24 hours specifically designed to circumvent the new security measures. Amazon stated, “Perplexity does not have authorization to access Amazon’s Store, Amazon user accounts, or account details, using its disguised or obscured Comet AI agents.”
Degraded Customer Experience and Security Risks
Beyond the unauthorized access, Amazon argues that Perplexity’s tool significantly harms the end-user. The company claims that when Comet AI makes purchases, it may not select the best price or delivery method, and customers may miss critical product information. For example, the tool reportedly does not offer users the option to add products to existing deliveries, a feature designed to improve delivery times and reduce shipment volumes.
Furthermore, Amazon raised serious concerns about data security. The letter points out that Perplexity’s terms grant it broad rights to collect sensitive user data, including passwords, payment methods, and shopping histories, while disclaiming responsibility for security. This is particularly troubling given recent security reports suggesting Comet is vulnerable to phishing scams and data theft attacks.
A History of Non-Compliance
The dispute is not a new development. Amazon noted that Perplexity’s unauthorized conduct dates back to at least November 2024 with a “Buy with Pro” function. At the time, Perplexity allegedly agreed to halt the deployment of its AI agents on Amazon’s store. However, Amazon states that Perplexity has since “changed course” and deployed Comet AI without informing or reaching an agreement with the e-commerce leader.
Amazon is demanding that Perplexity immediately cease its activities and transparently identify its AI agents when operating on the site, warning that it will “seek all available legal and equitable remedies” if the demands are not met.
Implications for the MENA Tech Ecosystem
This high-profile clash between a tech giant and an AI innovator sets a critical precedent for the burgeoning e-commerce and AI sectors in the MENA region. As regional e-commerce leaders like Noon, Namshi, and Trendyol continue to expand, they will likely face similar challenges from third-party AI agents attempting to interact with their platforms.
The legal outcome could establish a framework for how AI agents are allowed to operate on third-party sites, influencing policies on data scraping, automated purchasing, and API access. For MENA-based AI startups developing agentic technologies, this case highlights the importance of transparency and collaboration with established platforms to avoid potentially costly legal battles and build sustainable business models.
About Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI is a conversational search engine that uses large language models to deliver answers and information directly from sources on the internet. Founded by former AI researchers from Google, Meta, and OpenAI, the company aims to provide a more intuitive and accurate alternative to traditional search engines.
Source: Tech in Asia
