The Journal. cover image

The Journal.

Amazon’s Secret Operation to Gather Intel on Rivals

Apr 29, 2024
Dana Mattioli, a dedicated WSJ reporter, uncovers the secretive world of Amazon's 'Big River,' a covert operation gathering intel on rivals like Walmart and eBay. She delves into Project Curiosity, revealing their unconventional tactics and how it evolved from enhancing seller experiences to invasive competitor research. The podcast highlights Amazon's strategic maneuvers to sell on Walmart.com and the legal implications of these deceptive practices. Mattioli discusses the retail industry's reaction to this undercover operation and the potential for regulatory changes.
21:40

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Amazon used shell company 'Big River' to spy on rivals globally through covert operations.
  • The revelation of Amazon's secret intel gathering raises legal concerns and prompts industry reflection on oversight of seller platforms.

Deep dives

Amazon's Shell Company for Rival Intelligence

Big River Services International, a seemingly generic business, was revealed to be an Amazon shell company gathering information on rivals. Amazon's Project Curiosity disguised as Big River researched competitors beyond typical methods. Through Big River, Amazon went global, creating fake brands and gathering competitor pricing and logistics data.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode