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Can AI Browsers Like Perplexity Comet Safely Shop on Amazon for You?
The Federal Court Ruling on AI Browsers
On March 9, 2026, a US federal judge granted Amazon a preliminary injunction against Perplexity AI Inc. Judge Maxine Chesney of the Northern District Court of California ruled that Perplexity’s Comet browser can no longer make autonomous purchases on Amazon. The court determined that Perplexity accessed password-protected user accounts without Amazon’s direct authorization. Consequently, the legal order requires Perplexity to block its browser from accessing Amazon accounts and delete all previously collected customer data.
Why Amazon Issued a Cease and Desist
Perplexity released its Chromium-based Comet browser in late 2025. The software features integrated AI agents designed to handle independent tasks, such as booking flights and placing e-commerce orders. Users grant these AI agents permission to act as personal assistants to simplify their daily online operations.
However, Amazon identified severe compliance issues with how the Comet browser navigates its retail platform. Amazon subsequently sent Perplexity a cease and desist letter, demanding an immediate halt to agent-driven purchases. The core dispute involves platform transparency, data security, and strict adherence to established service terms.
The Legal Argument Over Computer Fraud
Amazon accused Perplexity of violating both the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act. Perplexity defended its actions in court by arguing its operations were entirely legal because individual users explicitly authorized the AI agents to shop on their behalf.
Amazon successfully countered this defense by highlighting multiple technical and security concerns:
- AI agents frequently make operational errors during automated transactions.
- Automated bots artificially interfere with Amazon’s internal site algorithms.
- Non-transparent browser activity elevates cybersecurity risks for consumer accounts.
To validate the federal fraud claim, Amazon proved its financial damages far exceeded the legal threshold of $5,000. These financial losses directly stem from the engineering hours Amazon spent developing defensive web tools. Amazon employees had to build specific software systems to detect unauthorized browser access and secure private customer information.
The Standard for AI Agents in E-commerce
Modern e-commerce platforms do not universally prohibit AI shopping bots. Amazon permits automated purchases if the AI agents digitally identify themselves upon entering the website. Legitimate third-party applications must operate transparently and respect the host platform’s participation guidelines to protect user data.
The federal court found that Perplexity executives actively concealed their AI agents’ digital footprints. Developers deliberately configured the Comet browser to masquerade as a normal human visitor. This intentional lack of transparency ultimately forced the federal court to intervene and restrict the browser’s functionality.