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California City Today
By the People, for the People
Amazon Wins Court Order to Block Perplexity's AI Shopping Agent
Startup accused of concealing AI agents to continue scraping Amazon's website without approval
Mar. 10, 2026 at 5:12pm
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A federal judge has temporarily blocked startup Perplexity from accessing Amazon's site with its Comet artificial intelligence browser. Amazon sued Perplexity in November, alleging the startup took steps to "conceal" its AI agents so they could continue to scrape the online retailer's website without its approval.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between tech giants and AI startups over access to e-commerce platforms. Amazon has been aggressively blocking AI agents from its site, citing security risks and challenges to its advertising business model. The ruling is a win for Amazon in maintaining control over its customer experience and data.
The details
In a ruling dated Monday, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney wrote that Amazon has provided "strong evidence" that Perplexity's Comet browser accessed its website at the user's direction, but "without authorization" from the e-commerce giant. Chesney said Amazon submitted "essentially undisputed evidence" that it spent more than $5,000 to respond to the issue, including "numerous hours" where its employees worked to develop tools to block Comet from accessing its private customer tools and to prevent the tool from "future unauthorized access."
- Amazon sued Perplexity in November 2025.
- The federal judge issued the temporary injunction on March 10, 2026.
The players
Amazon
An American multinational technology company that focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.
Perplexity
A startup that developed the Comet AI browser, which allows shoppers to ask an assistant to find items on Amazon and make purchases.
Maxine Chesney
A U.S. District Judge who issued the temporary injunction against Perplexity.
What’s next
The judge's ruling includes a weeklong stay to allow Perplexity to appeal the order.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing battle between tech giants and AI startups over access to e-commerce platforms. Amazon's victory in obtaining a temporary injunction demonstrates its determination to maintain control over its customer experience and data, even as AI-powered shopping tools become more prevalent.
