The Polish competition authority, UOKiK, has taken action against Amazon Digital UK and Amazon EU regarding their subscription services, specifically Amazon Prime and Prime Video. The authority found that these companies were unilaterally changing subscription prices without obtaining explicit consent from consumers, which is deemed illegal.

UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny highlighted that consumers should not be bound by new terms, including price increases, unless they have given informed consent. This practice is particularly concerning as many consumers have their payment cards linked to these services, allowing automatic deductions without their agreement.

As a result of UOKiK's findings, Amazon will notify current customers that the contested clauses regarding automatic price changes will no longer be applied. New customers will be subject to revised contractual terms that comply with the authority's requirements.

UOKiK is also investigating seven other companies offering subscription services, including major players like Apple, Disney+, Google, HBO Max, Microsoft, Netflix, and Sony, to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws. The authority aims to eliminate practices that disadvantage consumers, particularly in the growing subscription market.