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example of this was the '''editing of Roald Dahl's books''' in 2023, aimed at removing language deemed offensive or outdated. | |||
==Post-purchase e-book edits== | ==Post-purchase e-book edits== | ||
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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 | |||
}} | |||