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Amazon has faced significant scrutiny and criticism, particularly concerning its treatment of workers, marketplace practices, data privacy issues, and its impact on small businesses. It has been involved in various regulatory and legal challenges related to anti-competitive behavior, safety, and consumer protection, with calls for increased oversight on its business operations.
Amazon has faced significant scrutiny and criticism, particularly concerning its treatment of workers, marketplace practices, data privacy issues, and its impact on small businesses. It has been involved in various regulatory and legal challenges related to anti-competitive behavior, safety, and consumer protection, with calls for increased oversight on its business operations.
==Consumer impact summary==
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
* User Freedom
* User Privacy
* Business Model
* Market Control}}
$2


==Controversies==
==Controversies==
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!Controversy
!Controversy
!Year
!Year
!Background Info
!Background info
!Aftermath
!Aftermath
!Related Article
!Related article
!Related Video(s)
!Related video(s)
|-
|-
|Amazon removing ability to download Kindle books
|Amazon removing ability to download Kindle books
|2025
|2025
|Starting on February 26th, 2025, Amazon is removing a feature from its website allowing you to download purchased books to a computer and then copy them manually to a Kindle over USB.
|Starting on February 26, 2025, Amazon removed a feature from its website allowing users to download purchased books to a computer and then copy them manually to a Kindle over USB.
|Starting February 26, 2025, the ‘Download & Transfer via USB’ option will no longer be available.
|Starting February 26, 2025, the ‘Download & Transfer via USB’ option will no longer be available.
|[[Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books]]
|[[Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books]]
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<ref group="Video References">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfcoUdWCB9M</ref>
<ref group="Video References">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfcoUdWCB9M</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon sells dangerous litterboxes
|Amazon sells lethal litterboxes
|2024
|2024
|Amazon sold litterboxes that were designed in a unsafe way that led to the deaths of multiple cats, and posed a danger to young children.
|Amazon sold litterboxes that were designed in a unsafe way that led to the deaths of multiple cats, and posed a danger to young children.
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|-
|-
|Amazon adds ads to premium subscription
|Amazon adds ads to premium subscription
|2023-2024
|2023 – Present
|Amazon added advertisements to previously ad free subscriptions for Prime Video and Echo Show frames.
|Amazon added advertisements to previously ad free subscriptions for Prime Video and Echo Show frames.
|Continues to occur.
|Continues to occur.
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|-
|-
|Amazon allows fraudulent listings
|Amazon allows fraudulent listings
|2014-2024
|2014 – Present
|
|
|Fraudulent listings continue to be added, some removed.
|Fraudulent listings continue to be added, some removed.
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|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=qZCMislL6_I</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=7trdHLtsFKM</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=DiKflg8Uko4</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=y83BS_mK9GE</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=Rhb0ID9z4aE</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=XZNn2mO3dNQ</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=C0YNLWdj9sQ</ref>
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=qZCMislL6_I</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=7trdHLtsFKM</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=DiKflg8Uko4</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=y83BS_mK9GE</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=Rhb0ID9z4aE</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=XZNn2mO3dNQ</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=C0YNLWdj9sQ</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon allows sellers to bribe customers for better ratings.
|Amazon allows sellers to bribe customers for better ratings
|2016-2025
|2016 – Present
|Amazon sellers give customers gift cards in exchange for positive product reviews; Amazon does nothing to stop this.
|Amazon sellers give customers gift cards in exchange for positive product reviews; Amazon does nothing to stop this.
|Continues to occur.
|Continues to occur.
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|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=eS698R-bxuc</ref>
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=eS698R-bxuc</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon has bad marketplace algorithms.
|Amazon has bad marketplace algorithms
|2023-2024
|2023 – Present
|
|
|Algorithms still seem to be nonbeneficial.
|Algorithms still seem to be nonbeneficial.
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|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=tAaSXz8CBMc</ref>
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=tAaSXz8CBMc</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon trashes refurbished market.
|Amazon trashes refurbished market
|2022-2023
|2022–2023
|
|
|Unknown
|Unknown
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|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=h3qgbvq2SWs</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=qzUXmeaZsIQ</ref>
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=h3qgbvq2SWs</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=qzUXmeaZsIQ</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon cancels associate account after recent negative media coverage, with a different reason.
|Amazon cancels associate account after recent negative media coverage, with a different reason
|2023
|2023
|
|
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|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kcohq313q00</ref>
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kcohq313q00</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon wrongfully suspends account of home owner.
|Amazon wrongfully suspends account of home owner
|2023
|2023
|A home owner was locked out of their Amazon account for nearly a week, after a delivery driver from Amazon misheard an automated message from their Eufy doorbell.
|A home owner was locked out of their Amazon account for nearly a week, after a delivery driver from Amazon misheard an automated message from their Eufy doorbell.
|Account reinstated.
|Account reinstated.
|[[Amazon locks home owner out of amazon account over allegation by amazon delivery driver]]
|[[Amazon locks home owner out of Amazon account over allegation by Amazon delivery driver|Amazon locks home owner out of amazon account over allegation by amazon delivery driver]]
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyEgD-5GK9c</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s</ref>
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyEgD-5GK9c</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon engages in anticompetitive behavior
|Amazon engages in anticompetitive behavior
|2021-2022
|2021–2022
|
|
|Unknown
|Unknown
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|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=YBJoSGWdP0Y</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=XCLx4mVJ4gk</ref>
|<ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=YBJoSGWdP0Y</ref> <ref group="Video References">https://youtube.com/watch?v=XCLx4mVJ4gk</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon Sells Fake Electrical Fuses
|Amazon sells fake electrical fuses
|2024<!-- Year may be wrong, just following the video release year -->
|2024<!-- Year may be wrong, just following the video release year -->
|Fuses are being sold that do not blow when supplied more power than it is intended to handle, which is a major safety risk.
|Fuses are being sold that do not blow when supplied more power than it is intended to handle, which is a major safety risk.
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|<ref group="Video References">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU</ref>
|<ref group="Video References">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU</ref>
|-
|-
|Amazon PhotosPlus Discontinuation
|Amazon PhotosPlus discontinuation
|2024
|2024
|
|
|Continues to occur.
|Since September 2024, it is no longer possible to use the Amazon Echo Show 8 as a digital frame without advertisements.
|[[Amazon PhotosPlus Discontinuation]]
|[[Amazon PhotosPlus Discontinuation]]
|
|
|-
|-
|Amazon uses "dark patterns" for its premium subscription
|Amazon uses [[dark patterns]] for its premium subscription
|2023
|2023 – Present
|Systematically designing the cancelling steps to be complicated and long ; using tricks to kidnap users into the subscription.<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=FTC Takes Action Against Amazon for Enrolling Consumers in Amazon Prime Without Consent and Sabotaging Their Attempts to Cancel |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129015417/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-date=2025-01-29 |website=Federal Trade Commission |url-status=live}}</ref> See "Project Illiad"
|Systematically designing the cancelling steps to be complicated and long; using tricks to kidnap users into the subscription.<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=FTC Takes Action Against Amazon for Enrolling Consumers in Amazon Prime Without Consent and Sabotaging Their Attempts to Cancel |url=https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129015417/https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/06/ftc-takes-action-against-amazon-enrolling-consumers-amazon-prime-without-consent-sabotaging-their |archive-date=2025-01-29 |website=Federal Trade Commission |url-status=live}}</ref> See "Project Illiad".
|Continues to occur.
|Continues to occur.
|
|
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|
|
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAvFmnuZZMI '''Amazon Discontinues Lending Kindle e-Books''']
|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAvFmnuZZMI '''Amazon Discontinues Lending Kindle e-Books''']
|-
|Amazon removes option not to send voice recordings from Echo devices
|2025
|In March 2025, Echo customers with the option "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" enabled received an e-mail that local processing will no longer be supported on their device.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-18 |title=TechLinked – Microsoft’s Big Oopsie – Echo voice recordings, Gemini watermarks |url=https://youtu.be/DhXH83O6pXc?t=268 |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=YouTube – TechLinked}}</ref>
|
|[[Amazon Echo changes terms of voice usage]]
|
|}
|}


===All Louis Rossmann videos covering Amazon:<!-- These references should be updated to either: A. Use the title of the video B. Summarize the video -->===
==Products==<!-- Considering the sheer amount of products Amazon has, we should consider the table format -->
 
===Amazon Kindle (2007 – Present)===
Amazon has progressively removed options for products purchased through the Kindle, effectively changing the meaning of purchases and ownership. It first removed the ability of users to lend e-books to one another, and later removed the ability to download purchased e-books to a computer.
 
===Amazon PhotosPlus (2023–2024)===
Amazon sold physical devices that could displaying photos stored in its Amazon Photos cloud storage through its PhotosPlus service. Less than one year later, it cancelled the service, which [[Retroactively amended purchase|changed the functionality]] of the devices, including showing advertisements every few hours.
 
===Amazon Prime (2005 – Present)===
Amazon uses [[dark patterns]] for its subscription services, including tricking users into subscribing and making it very complicated to cancel.
 
===Amazon Echo (2014 – Present)===
 
===Amazon Alexa (2013 – Present)===
 
==See also==
{{Placeholder box|Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.}}
 
==All Louis Rossmann videos covering Amazon==
<!-- These references should be updated to either: A. Use the title of the video B. Summarize the video -->
 
<references group="Video References" />
<references group="Video References" />


===References:===
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Logistics companies]]
[[Category:Online music stores]]
[[Category:Online retailers]]
[[Category:Software companies]]
[[Category:Technology companies]]
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Amazon]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Latest revision as of 04:15, 25 March 2025

❗Article Status Notice: This Article is a stub

Notice: This Article Requires Additional Expansion

This article is underdeveloped, and needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Issues may include:

  • This article needs to be expanded to provide meaningful information
  • This article requires additional verifiable evidence to demonstrate systemic impact
  • More documentation is needed to establish how this reflects broader consumer protection concerns
  • The connection between individual incidents and company-wide practices needs to be better established
  • The article is simply too short, and lacks sufficient content

How You Can Help:

  • Add documented examples with verifiable sources
  • Provide evidence of similar incidents affecting other consumers
  • Include relevant company policies or communications that demonstrate systemic practices
  • Link to credible reporting that covers these issues
  • Flesh out the article with relevant information

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Amazon
Basic information
Founded 1994
Type Public
Industry Technology
Official website https://amazon.com/


Amazon.com, Inc. is a global leader in e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming, founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos. Originally launched as an online bookstore, Amazon quickly expanded into a marketplace offering a wide range of products, including electronics, clothing, household goods, and groceries. Today, it is one of the largest companies in the world, with a dominant presence in retail, technology, and logistics.

In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon is a major player in cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provides cloud infrastructure and services to businesses globally. The company also offers a variety of digital services, such as Amazon Prime, which provides streaming video and music, and Alexa, its voice-activated virtual assistant. Amazon has also developed consumer products like the Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, and Echo smart speakers.

Amazon has faced significant scrutiny and criticism, particularly concerning its treatment of workers, marketplace practices, data privacy issues, and its impact on small businesses. It has been involved in various regulatory and legal challenges related to anti-competitive behavior, safety, and consumer protection, with calls for increased oversight on its business operations.

Consumer impact summary[edit | edit source]

Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):

  • User Freedom
  • User Privacy
  • Business Model
  • Market Control

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.

$2

Controversies[edit | edit source]

Amazon has been involved in numerous controversies, from dangerous products to anti-competitive practices. Below is a comprehensive listing of every relevant controversy documented here on this wiki:

Controversy Year Background info Aftermath Related article Related video(s)
Amazon removing ability to download Kindle books 2025 Starting on February 26, 2025, Amazon removed a feature from its website allowing users to download purchased books to a computer and then copy them manually to a Kindle over USB. Starting February 26, 2025, the ‘Download & Transfer via USB’ option will no longer be available. Amazon Kindle removes download feature of purchased books Amazon are changing the way you own your Kindle books - you have 10 days to react

[Video References 1]

Amazon sells lethal litterboxes 2024 Amazon sold litterboxes that were designed in a unsafe way that led to the deaths of multiple cats, and posed a danger to young children. Original product was delisted, yet many other variants of the same product exist on the site. [Video References 2]
Amazon adds ads to premium subscription 2023 – Present Amazon added advertisements to previously ad free subscriptions for Prime Video and Echo Show frames. Continues to occur. [Video References 3] [Video References 4] [Video References 5]
Amazon allows fraudulent listings 2014 – Present Fraudulent listings continue to be added, some removed. Amazon allows fraudulent product page after manual review! Deep dive on Amazons support of scams [Video References 6] [Video References 7] [Video References 8] [Video References 9] [Video References 10] [Video References 11] [Video References 12] [Video References 13]
Amazon allows sellers to bribe customers for better ratings 2016 – Present Amazon sellers give customers gift cards in exchange for positive product reviews; Amazon does nothing to stop this. Continues to occur. Amazon's history of seller bribery [Video References 14]
Amazon has bad marketplace algorithms 2023 – Present Algorithms still seem to be nonbeneficial. [Video References 15]
Amazon trashes refurbished market 2022–2023 Unknown [Video References 16] [Video References 17]
Amazon cancels associate account after recent negative media coverage, with a different reason 2023 Unknown [Video References 18]
Amazon wrongfully suspends account of home owner 2023 A home owner was locked out of their Amazon account for nearly a week, after a delivery driver from Amazon misheard an automated message from their Eufy doorbell. Account reinstated. Amazon locks home owner out of amazon account over allegation by amazon delivery driver [Video References 19] [Video References 20]
Amazon engages in anticompetitive behavior 2021–2022 Unknown [Video References 21] [Video References 22]
Amazon sells fake electrical fuses 2024 Fuses are being sold that do not blow when supplied more power than it is intended to handle, which is a major safety risk. These fuses are still being sold to this day. Amazon allows fraudulent product page after manual review! Deep dive on Amazons support of scams [Video References 23]
Amazon PhotosPlus discontinuation 2024 Since September 2024, it is no longer possible to use the Amazon Echo Show 8 as a digital frame without advertisements. Amazon PhotosPlus Discontinuation
Amazon uses dark patterns for its premium subscription 2023 – Present Systematically designing the cancelling steps to be complicated and long; using tricks to kidnap users into the subscription.[1] See "Project Illiad". Continues to occur.
Amazon removes option to lend Kindle e-books 2022 E-books marked with "lending enabled" could be lent to other Kindle users for a period of time during which the title is unavailable to the sender. Since August 2022, it is not possible to borrow Kindle books. Amazon Discontinues Lending Kindle e-Books
Amazon removes option not to send voice recordings from Echo devices 2025 In March 2025, Echo customers with the option "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" enabled received an e-mail that local processing will no longer be supported on their device.[2] Amazon Echo changes terms of voice usage

Products[edit | edit source]

Amazon Kindle (2007 – Present)[edit | edit source]

Amazon has progressively removed options for products purchased through the Kindle, effectively changing the meaning of purchases and ownership. It first removed the ability of users to lend e-books to one another, and later removed the ability to download purchased e-books to a computer.

Amazon PhotosPlus (2023–2024)[edit | edit source]

Amazon sold physical devices that could displaying photos stored in its Amazon Photos cloud storage through its PhotosPlus service. Less than one year later, it cancelled the service, which changed the functionality of the devices, including showing advertisements every few hours.

Amazon Prime (2005 – Present)[edit | edit source]

Amazon uses dark patterns for its subscription services, including tricking users into subscribing and making it very complicated to cancel.

Amazon Echo (2014 – Present)[edit | edit source]

Amazon Alexa (2013 – Present)[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Link to relevant theme articles or companies with similar incidents.

Add your text below this box. Once this section is complete, delete this box by clicking on it and pressing backspace.

All Louis Rossmann videos covering Amazon[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfcoUdWCB9M
  2. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=p6Y19nSPvC4
  3. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=RSi6g5-xUaY
  4. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=ua_QL9YysHQ
  5. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=VLFpU9aqtXc
  6. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=qZCMislL6_I
  7. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=7trdHLtsFKM
  8. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU
  9. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=DiKflg8Uko4
  10. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=y83BS_mK9GE
  11. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=Rhb0ID9z4aE
  12. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=XZNn2mO3dNQ
  13. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=C0YNLWdj9sQ
  14. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=eS698R-bxuc
  15. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=tAaSXz8CBMc
  16. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=h3qgbvq2SWs
  17. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=qzUXmeaZsIQ
  18. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=Kcohq313q00
  19. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=SyEgD-5GK9c
  20. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=NfiIXooD77s
  21. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=YBJoSGWdP0Y
  22. ↑ https://youtube.com/watch?v=XCLx4mVJ4gk
  23. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B90_SNNbcoU

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "FTC Takes Action Against Amazon for Enrolling Consumers in Amazon Prime Without Consent and Sabotaging Their Attempts to Cancel". Federal Trade Commission. 2023-06-21. Archived from the original on 2025-01-29.
  2. ↑ "TechLinked – Microsoft's Big Oopsie – Echo voice recordings, Gemini watermarks". YouTube – TechLinked. 2025-03-18. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
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