FTC says Amazon executives destroyed potential evidence by using apps like Signal

NOW, The Washington Post (owned by Amazon founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos) reports that Amazon is just one of several companies recently accused of turning to encrypted messaging apps like Signal that can automatically and permanently erase the messages.

This week’s filing includes screenshots of a Signal conversation between two Amazon executives who said, “Are you feeling cryptic?” and I started to activate the disappearing messages.

FTC lawyers say Bezos, current CEO Andy Jassy, ​​general counsel David Zapolsky, former CEO of global operations Dave Clark and other executives are all Signal users. Bezos is identified in the document as “a heavy Signal user” who has asked others to use the app, although the hacking of his personal cell phone in 2018 may be one reason.

And because Amazon didn’t ask its employees to retain messages sent in the app until more than 15 months after being informed of the investigation, the FTC says: “It is very likely that the relevant information was destroyed the continuation of Amazon’s actions and inaction. »

FTC lawyers are seeking to uncover Amazon’s efforts to preserve documents so they can determine how much information might be missing. Despite requests last fall for relevant documents on Amazon’s guidance to employees on ephemeral applications, the FTC says Amazon has so far refused to produce much of what has been requested. If the judge finds that Amazon was negligent in not retaining data related to the case, the company could face penalties, and the situation could get worse if the judge finds that the failures were intentional.