Judge orders Perplexity to stop AI agents from shopping on Amazon
A federal judge found 'strong evidence' Perplexity's Comet browser accessed Amazon accounts without permission.
A federal judge has ordered AI startup Perplexity to immediately cease its AI agents from shopping on Amazon, siding with the retail giant in a significant legal clash over automated access. U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney granted Amazon's request for a preliminary injunction, finding the company provided 'strong evidence' that Perplexity's Comet browser accessed user accounts and its marketplace 'without authorization.' The ruling, which takes effect in seven days to allow for an appeal, also mandates Perplexity destroy any Amazon data it obtained.
Amazon sued Perplexity in November, alleging the startup ignored repeated requests to stop its agents from buying products for customers. The lawsuit accused Perplexity of 'intruding' into its systems in violation of computer fraud laws and even attempting to 'conceal' its activities by 'misrepresenting the Comet browser as Google Chrome.' This case represents a major test of boundaries for AI agents that take autonomous actions, or 'agentic' features, on the web.
The injunction is a major setback for Perplexity's vision of an AI-powered web browser that can act on a user's behalf. While Perplexity stated it 'will continue to fight for the right of internet users to choose whatever AI they want,' the ruling establishes a legal barrier against unauthorized automated access to private platforms. The core dispute centers on whether such agentic activity requires explicit permission from the website being accessed, setting a precedent for how AI interacts with closed ecosystems.
- A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking Perplexity's AI agents from accessing Amazon and placing orders.
- Amazon's lawsuit alleged Perplexity's Comet browser accessed accounts 'without authorization' and misrepresented itself as Chrome.
- The ruling mandates Perplexity stop the activity and destroy any obtained Amazon data, with a 7-day window to appeal.
Why It Matters
This sets a critical precedent for how AI agents can legally interact with and automate actions on private websites and platforms.