Amazon fights a lawsuit

ONLINE BOOKSELLER Amazon is trying to stop a US state government from gaining access to its transaction details.

North Carolina is demanding that Amazon hand over its user details, from their shopping histories - where perhaps only a three wolf tee shirt can save you - down to full names and addresses.

The details have emerged from a complaint filed in court and seen by Reuters that shows that the state government is demanding the details of anyone who has lived in North Carolina at any time since 2003.

Suggestions that North Carolina's governor is sick of not getting what is on his wishlist are totally unfounded, and in fact the truth is that the state is looking to get a better understanding of how much tax Amazon might owe it.

Amazon has said that disclosing such details would be an invasion of its customers' privacy, but trifles like that do not bother state governments that are looking for tax revenues. µ