Thread by @JuliaAngwin

Amazon bans dangerous listings. But we found nearly 100 listings for banned weapons, drug equipment, and spy gear.

Several were listed as “Amazon’s Choice.” Five were sold by Amazon itself.

Amazing reporting from @AnnieGilbertson and @jonkeegan themarkup.org/banned-bounty/… /1

These materials are not only dangerous - but deadly. In an interview from prison, Eric Falkowski told us that he bought pill presses on @amazon and used them to make counterfeit prescription opioids. His fake pills killed two people and sickened 20 others. /2

Amazon says it catches billions of improper listings a year. But it was pretty easy for us evade its rules. @jonkeegan set up a seller account and listed two weapons parts for sale just by varying the words and codes he used in the listing. /3

Amazon’s autocomplete also suggested banned items to us in the search bar and as “frequently bought together” items. When he registered as a seller, Amazon’s automated systems also suggested @jonkeegan list a banned item - a bong - as a vase in the home decor department. /4

Amazon removed most of the items we brought to their attention and some of the autocomplete suggestions.

But is unchecked automated self-policing - plus occasional oversight from the press - truly the best way to keep dangerous goods off of Amazon’s platform? /5

As always, we show all our work - with underlying data, screenshots and methodology. Please read!
themarkup.org/banned-bounty/… /end