Amazon investigates data leaks by bribed employees

Amazon is initiating an internal investigation into suspected internal data leaks by some employees for bribes, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Here are four things to know:

1. Sources familiar with the investigation told WSJ some Amazon employees are offering internal data and other confidential information to independent merchants looking to sell their products on the website. The practice is particularly pronounced in China, though some U.S. employees have also engaged in the scheme, the report states.

"If I don't do bad things, I will die," one Amazon seller in China told WSJ, referring to how increased competition on the website has affected his business.

2. Employees typically offer up the information for between $80 and $2,000, and provide brokers with internal sales metrics, reviewers' email addresses, and oftentimes a service to delete negative reviews and restore banned Amazon accounts, sources said.

3. Amazon began looking into the incidents in May and has shuffled the roles of several key executives in China to try and end the bribery tactics, one source told WSJ.

4. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the investigation to the publication and said the company maintains strict policies and a code of business conduct and ethics. The alleged bribery schemes violate those policies.

"We hold our employees to a high ethical standard and anyone in violation of our code faces discipline, including termination and potential legal and criminal penalties," the spokesperson told the publication.

To access the full report, click here.

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