Amazon alters the content of purchased ebooks: Difference between revisions
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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 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 | 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."'' | ||
Whilst users are able to disable automatic e-book updates for previously purchased e-books in their libraries, such updates are enabled by Amazon by default. | Whilst users are able to disable automatic e-book updates for previously purchased e-books in their libraries, such updates are enabled by Amazon by default. | ||
=== | ===Examples of specific edits=== | ||
The changes included numerous alterations to the original text, such as: | The changes included numerous alterations to the original text, such as: | ||
*Replacing "fat" with "enormous" in describing Augustus Gloop | *Replacing "fat" with "enormous" in describing Augustus Gloop | ||
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*Gender-neutral language – "Cloud-Men" in ''James and the Giant Peach'' were renamed "Cloud-People". | *Gender-neutral language – "Cloud-Men" in ''James and the Giant Peach'' were renamed "Cloud-People". | ||
*Removal of references to physical appearance – The "fat little brown mouse" in ''The Witches'' became simply "little brown mouse". | *Removal of references to physical appearance – The "fat little brown mouse" in ''The Witches'' became simply "little brown mouse". | ||
*Sanitization of language – ''The Witches'' originally stated: "You must be mad, woman!" This was | *Sanitization of language – ''The Witches'' originally stated: "You must be mad, woman!" This was rephrased to "You must be out of your mind!" | ||
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" /> | ||