Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) sent a joint letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday, calling for a federal investigation into Amazon and Walmart. The senators are concerned that the retail giants may be using artificial intelligence and other platform tools in ways that deceive consumers about the origin of the goods they purchase.

Specifically, the senators are questioning whether the companies' algorithms or search features facilitate "Made in the USA" fraud. The letter, addressed to FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson and Commissioner Mark Meador, suggests that these anticompetitive practices could be harming both American manufacturers and the consumers who specifically seek out domestic products. By allegedly mislabeling or failing to properly vet the origin of items, the senators argue that these platforms are undermining the value of the "Made in the USA" designation.

While the letter frames the issue as a matter of consumer protection and market fairness, it remains to be seen how the FTC will respond to this bipartisan request. Neither Amazon nor Walmart has issued a formal public response to the specific allegations raised in the letter as of Thursday. The inquiry highlights a growing interest among lawmakers in how large e-commerce platforms utilize AI to influence purchasing decisions and whether current oversight is sufficient to prevent deceptive marketing practices in a digital marketplace.