The news: Amazon is being investigated by a US Senate committee over allegations that individuals in China may have influenced its marketplace, per Bloomberg.

The Senate Small Business Committee has found “compelling evidence” of “Amazon negligence related to Chinese influence,” according to an email sent by a committee researcher to an Amazon seller and seen by Bloomberg. The email did not provide specific examples of wrongdoing.

The allegations: The investigation appears to have been triggered by a previous Bloomberg report describing the existence of an illicit market where sellers could pay for access to people inside Amazon in order to gain an edge over rivals, boost sales, or otherwise aid their businesses. Per Bloomberg, these offers are constantly being fielded to sellers via middlemen on Telegram, WhatsApp, and WeChat, especially during important periods like Prime Day and the holiday shopping season.

The committee is interested in the case of Jack Nekhala, a Staten Island-based merchant, who recorded several conversations with an intermediary who appeared to have access to information from his Amazon seller account, and offered to arrange favors through Amazon connections in China for a fee. Nekhala told Bloomberg that investigators appear to be focused on how Amazon employees in China could influence its online marketplace.

Implications for Amazon: Beyond adding to Amazon’s existing regulatory challenges, the Senate’s investigation could create a perception problem for the retailer. It could raise concerns among buyers and sellers about the integrity of Amazon’s marketplace if allegations of manipulation gain credibility.

The probe could also bring pressure on Amazon to change how it oversees its marketplace. The company could face greater scrutiny of its seller enforcement and use of AI, particularly as sellers report difficulty resolving issues.

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