Amazon is selling Nazi-branded merchandise including a swastika pendant, stickers with Nazi imagery and a German SS hat.
Some white supremacist paraphernalia on the site is even targeted at children, including a child-sized onesie with a burning cross on it, a new study reports.
Researchers criticised Amazon for failing to police its marketplace for offensive items despite having first been warned of such products on its site six years ago.
Amazon is selling Nazi-branded merchandise including a swastika pendant (top right), stickers with Nazi imagery (bottom images) and a German SS hat. Some paraphernalia on the site is even targeted at children, including a child-sized onesie with a burning cross on it (top left)
The report was published by two US advocacy groups, the Partnership for Working Families and the Action Center on Race & the Economy.
‘Amazon has responded to public pressure in particular instances and for particular parts of its empire,’ they wrote in the report.
‘But it has failed to create internal systems that effectively prevent hate groups from using its platforms to propagate their ideas or that stop the spread of hate symbols via its online store.
‘In a moment when hate groups and racist violence are on the rise, Amazon’s failure to effectively block hate organizations from the use of its platforms to spread violent ideologies is a dangerous choice.’
The group found products that convey messages of anti-Semitism, racism, white supremacy, and other hateful messages.
They included a flag emblazened with Nazi imagery, a German SS officer sword and even a children’s toy depicting a Nazi soldier on a motorcycle.
The group found products that convey messages of anti-Semitism, racism, white supremacy, and other hateful messages. They included flags and patches emblazened with Nazi imagery (right images), as well as a German SS officer sword and hat (left images)
Amazon also sells racist literature published by well-known Neo-Nazis, like ‘The Fable of the Ducks and the Hens,’ a children’s book by American Nazi Party founder George Lincoln Rockwell.
Tracks from white supremacist bands feature on Amazon’s music streaming platform, the report found.
The items were uncovered in June, though all have since been removed from the Amazon marketplace.
Researchers said they were uncertain how many of each item had been sold through Amazon before the listings were taken down.
The items were uncovered in June, though all have since been removed from the Amazon marketplace. Researchers said they were uncertain how many of each item had been sold through Amazon before the listings were taken down (stock image)
They said: ‘Amazon must take a public stand against this hate and violence, and take action to ensure that it is not profting from hate or enabling others to proft from hate.
‘Across its platforms, Amazon has the right to determine what it sells, publishes, and helps to deliver online. As a wealthy corporation, it has the resources to ensure its policies are enforced.’
Amazon Marketplace allows smaller businesses access to millions of shoppers but some question whether the benefits outweigh the costs.
WHAT ACTIVITY IS PROHIBITED UNDER AMAZON’S REVIEW POLICIES?
At least a thousand Amazon customers are complaining that their Prime accounts have been shut down with no notice.
Since last week, users have taken to Twitter, urging Amazon to resolve the issue.
Amazon has since issued a statement to many affected customers.
In it, the firm explained the accounts had violated Amazon’s policies around posting reviews for ‘commercial purposes’.
Amazon bans users from publishing reviews in exchange for things like discounts or gift cards, a process called ‘review swaps’.
At least two private Facebook groups have been formed since the issue started popping up, including one titled ‘ Amazon Account Closure Discussion Group ,’ which has 3,025 members
This is detailed under Amazon’s review policies, which are posted on its website and prohibit activity including:
- Creating, modifying or posting content regarding your (or your relative’s, close friend’s, business associate’s or employer’s) products or services
- Creating, modifying, or posting content regarding your competitor’s products or services.
- Creating, modifying, or posting content in exchange for compensation of any kind (including free or discounted products, refunds or reimbursements) or on behalf of anyone else.
- Offering compensation or requesting compensation in exchange for creating, modifying, or posting content.
- Posting advertisements or solicitations, including URLs with referrer tags or affiliate codes.
As far back as 2012, the company has receieved complaints of offensive imagery sold by third parties on its marketplace.
Amazon was previously pulled up in 2014 for allowing the sale of Nazi flags and rings on its marketplace.
In a statement, Amazon said: ‘Third party sellers who use our Marketplace service must follow our guidelines and those who don’t are subject to swift action including potential removal of their account.’