What you're agreeing to

Amazon's Terms of Service govern a vast ecosystem including shopping, Prime Video, and Alexa. Digital purchases are licenses not sales, so you can lose access to Kindle books and Prime Video titles if your account is closed.

Privacy in plain English

Amazon tracks everything you search, view, purchase, and wish-list to build one of the most comprehensive consumer profiles in existence. Amazon Alexa records voice commands and Amazon's advertising network uses your purchase history to target ads across the web.

Terms of Service: Breakdown

Concerning Clauses

• - Digital purchases on Amazon are licenses, not ownership — Amazon can revoke access to Kindle books or Prime Video if your account is suspended.
• Amazon can close your account and refuse refunds on digital content at its discretion.
• The arbitration clause prevents class-action lawsuits; US customers must resolve disputes individually.

Data Sharing

• - Purchase and browsing data feeds Amazon's advertising network which targets you on Amazon and third-party websites.
• Amazon shares data with third-party sellers when you purchase their products on the marketplace.

Known Incidents

• - 2023: Amazon was fined $25 million by the FTC for retaining children's voice recordings from Alexa without parental consent.
• 2023: Amazon's Ring division was fined $5.8 million for allowing employees to access customers' private security camera footage.

Privacy Policy: Breakdown

Privacy Issues

• - Alexa devices continuously listen for the wake word and Amazon retains voice recordings to improve its AI systems.
• Amazon tracks your browsing behavior on its site and across millions of third-party websites that use Amazon's advertising tools.

Who Gets Your Data

• - Your purchase history and browsing behavior feed Amazon's DSP advertising platform used by brands across the web. - Third-party sellers on Amazon's marketplace receive your delivery address, name, and order details.

Safer Alternatives

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