Reuters probe exposes Amazon’s secret strategy to dupe Indian regulators

It was early 2019, and senior Amazon executive Jay Carney was preparing for an important meeting: The former press secretary to US President Barack Obama, Carney was scheduled to talk with India’s ambassador to the United States in Washington, DC. In Delhi, the Indian government had just announced foreign direct investment regulations that threatened to disrupt Amazon’s business in the world’s second most populous country.

Before the meeting, Amazon employees prepared a draft note for Carney. The note, reviewed by Reuters, advised Carney what to say – and what not to say.

He should highlight the fact that Amazon had committed more than $5.5 billion in investment in India and how it provided an online platform for…