Amazon is reportedly investigating charges that some of its employees are peddling confirdential data.
A Wall Street Journal article alleged that the e-commerce giant's staff members are disclosing customer data (such as reviewer email addresses) to merchants/independent sellers and deleting negative reviews on products in exchange for money - something that can potentially allow merchants to increase their product rankings or sales. The practice is "particularly pronounced in China," the article said. Brokers for Amazon employees in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen leaked internal data to independent sellers for payments of between $80 and $2,000, according to the Journal report.
An Amazon spokesperson told CNN it has "sophisticated systems to restrict and audit access to information," while adding that the company is investigating into the matter and would take action if anyone has violated the rules.