Amazon altering the content of purchased ebooks: Difference between revisions
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[[Amazon]] allows publishers who publish e-books through their store to alter their existing works, and push such updates to the copies of e-books in user libraries, without explicit user permission, or user notification. This may be simply to correct minor errors, but in some cases can constitute substantial changes in wording, for example to make a work more politically correct. The highest profile example of this was the '''editing of Roald Dahl's books''' for British users in 2023, aimed at removing language deemed offensive or outdated. | |||
Amazon allows publishers who publish e-books through their store to alter their existing works. This may be simply to correct minor errors, but in some cases can constitute substantial changes in wording, for example to make a work more politically correct. The highest profile example of this was the '''editing of Roald Dahl's books''' in 2023, aimed at removing language deemed offensive or outdated. | |||
==Post-purchase e-book edits== | ==Post-purchase e-book edits== | ||
In February 2023, Puffin were found to be automatically updating Roald Dahl e-books previously purchased on Amazon with new "sanitized" versions that contained hundreds of changes to the original text. Users who had purchased the e-books before the changes were implemented found their copies automatically replaced with the edited versions, without being given a choice or notification beyond the updates themselves.<ref name="times1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/roald-dahl-collection-books-changes-text-puffin-uk-2023-rm2622vl0|title=Roald Dahl ebooks ‘force censored versions on readers’ despite backlash|author1=Ben Ellery|author2=James Beal|date=25 February 2023|format=article|publisher=Times Media}}</ref> | In February 2023, Puffin were found to be automatically updating Roald Dahl e-books previously purchased by UK users on Amazon with new "sanitized" versions that contained hundreds of changes to the original text. Users who had purchased the e-books before the changes were implemented found their copies automatically replaced with the edited versions, without being given a choice or notification beyond the updates themselves.<ref name="times1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/roald-dahl-collection-books-changes-text-puffin-uk-2023-rm2622vl0|title=Roald Dahl ebooks ‘force censored versions on readers’ despite backlash|author1=Ben Ellery|author2=James Beal|date=25 February 2023|format=article|publisher=Times Media}}</ref> | ||
In 2023, The Telegraph reported that '''hundreds of changes''' were made to Roald Dahl’s classic children's books, including ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'', ''Matilda'', and ''The Witches''.<ref name=":3" /> These edits were performed by the publisher Puffin in collaboration with a group called '''Inclusive Minds''', with the stated goal of ensuring the books ''"can continue to be enjoyed by all today."'' | In 2023, The Telegraph reported that '''hundreds of changes''' were made to Roald Dahl’s classic children's books, including ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'', ''Matilda'', and ''The Witches''.<ref name=":3" /> These edits were performed by the publisher Puffin in collaboration with a group called '''Inclusive Minds''', with the stated goal of ensuring the books ''"can continue to be enjoyed by all today."'' | ||
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Clarissa Aykroyd, a children's publishing professional, described the automatic updates as feeling "Orwellian," saying she assumed users would be given the option on whether to download the original version or the newly sanitized versions given how significant the changes were. The forced updates led her to become "weary of ebooks."<ref name="times1" /> | Clarissa Aykroyd, a children's publishing professional, described the automatic updates as feeling "Orwellian," saying she assumed users would be given the option on whether to download the original version or the newly sanitized versions given how significant the changes were. The forced updates led her to become "weary of ebooks."<ref name="times1" /> | ||
==Public response== | ==Public response== | ||
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Spelling out what Dahl said above: "I don't give a bugger"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/footlights/docs/depaul_-_the_witches|title=The Witches|publisher=The Theatre School at DePaul University (2011)|author=Roald Dahl|date=1983}}</ref> | Spelling out what Dahl said above: "I don't give a bugger"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/footlights/docs/depaul_-_the_witches|title=The Witches|publisher=The Theatre School at DePaul University (2011)|author=Roald Dahl|date=1983}}</ref> | ||
==Company response== | ==Company response== | ||
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===Debate over modern censorship=== | ===Debate over modern censorship=== | ||
The changes to Dahl's books sparked wider debate over whether these changes were necessary updates or excessive censorship, as well as whether Amazon should enable this behavior by default. Critics argue that altering the original language distorts an author's intent, undermines a user's 'ownership' of their e-books, and removes historical context. | The changes to Dahl's books sparked wider debate over whether these changes were necessary updates or excessive censorship, as well as whether Amazon should enable this behavior by default. Critics argue that altering the original language distorts an author's intent, undermines a user's 'ownership' of their e-books, and removes historical context. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
{{IncidentCargo | |||
|Company=Amazon | |||
|StartDate=2023 | |||
|Status=Active | |||
|ProductLine=Amazon Kindle | |||
|Product=Amazon Kindle | |||
|ArticleType=Service | |||
|Type=Digital restrictions | |||
|Description=Amazon automatically allows publishers to make substantial editorial changes to users' purchased books | |||
}} | |||
[[Category:Amazon]] | |||