Judge blocks Perplexity agents from placing Amazon orders, setting a clearer boundary for agent behavior
A federal judge has issued an order preventing Perplexity’s Comet browser-based AI agents from making purchases on Amazon on users’ behalf. In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney said Amazon provided "strong evidence" that the agents accessed user accounts "without authorization," and granted relief that stops the agentic buying feature while the dispute proceeds.
The decision follows Amazon’s lawsuit, filed after the company repeatedly asked Perplexity to stop allowing its agents to place orders. Amazon argued the shopping capability intruded into its marketplace and user accounts; Perplexity’s agentic functionality had allowed an AI to act on a user’s behalf in ways that raised questions about consent, authentication, and marketplace rules.
While it limits a high-profile use of agentic AI, this ruling can be seen as a constructive moment for the industry. By clarifying legal boundaries around automated interactions with online accounts, the court is nudging AI companies toward stronger authorization flows, better user-consent mechanisms, and formal integrations (APIs/partnerships) with platforms rather than fragile or covert workarounds.
Looking ahead, developers and platforms alike can use this decision as a catalyst: implement clear sign-in and consent patterns for agents, build auditable action logs, and pursue cooperative integrations that balance user convenience with security and marketplace rules. Those steps will help unlock agent-driven experiences that are both powerful and trustworthy.
- Immediate effect: Perplexity’s agents cannot place Amazon orders while the injunction is in place.
- Industry impact: Sets precedent encouraging explicit authorization and platform-level partnerships for agent actions.
- Consumer benefit: Reinforces protections for user accounts and marketplace integrity.