A brand new report is sounding the alarm about on-line large Amazon, claiming the corporate is just not complying with California regulation and that sure merchandise which can be doubtlessly harmful to kids are in a position to be bought by kids via their platform.
“The examination found that Amazon is currently not complying with §1798.99.1,” the brand new research from the Youngsters’s Advocacy Institute (CAI) on the College of San Diego Faculty of Regulation says about Amazon and California regulation.
“In the case of many merchandise which can be unlawful to promote to minors — a few of that are doubtlessly harmful to kids — Amazon is just not participating in any of the required steps to make sure kids can not purchase sure merchandise.
From a toddler security perspective, it’s applicable to give attention to Amazon. It’s by an enormous margin the dominant on-line vendor of merchandise. No different firm comes shut.”
The research cites a 2018 information story the place it was reported {that a} minor was in a position to buy a BB gun on Amazon regardless of BB weapons being unlawful to promote to minors within the state.
CAI states that it’s “not apparent that Amazon is taking any steps at all” to make sure minors will not be allowed to purchase spray paint, etching cream, ultraviolet tanning units, and physique branding gear which can be listed in California regulation as gadgets minors can not buy.
The report additionally claims Amazon customers are additionally in a position to bypass age verification to buy a BB gun by placing in incorrect data, signing out of their account and signing again in, or discovering different methods to keep away from inputting correct data that may forestall the acquisition.
The research additionally claims that minors are in a position to buy tobacco paraphernalia.
“As with the BB gun purchase process above, a customer can proceed to the final check-out page upon inputting a legal age and driver’s license number; however, as above, Amazon apparently takes no steps to verify that the information entered is accurate,” the research says. “Here, as above, entering an incorrect driver’s license number (off by one digit) was accepted as valid identification, and the purchase was able to proceed.”
Amazon “apparently accepts inputting an incorrect age so long as it is above the age of 18 even if the age does not match the information on the provided driver’s license,” the research alleges.
The research additionally claims that Amazon doesn’t “appear” to require a authorized grownup from receiving these questionable packages and that the corporate is just not taking “reasonable steps” to make sure minors will not be buying the gadgets.
“Every company should robustly obey the law, especially when it comes to child-protective laws and a company that earned over $50 billion in 2024,” Ed Howard, CAI Senior Counsel, stated in an announcement to Fox Information Digital. “Not only is Amazon imperiling child safety, it also gains an unfair advantage over any businesses that follow the law, including mom-and-pop retailers.”
In an announcement to Fox Enterprise, an Amazon spokesperson stated, “Customer safety and trust are our highest priorities, and Amazon takes its responsibility to enforce age controls seriously. Minors are not permitted to shop on Amazon.com without the involvement of a parent or guardian, per our Conditions of Use.”
“For applicable products, to comply with the California law, our age controls require customers to submit their birthdate and information from an accepted form of ID, and we validate the information provided. If we became aware of instances in which a customer has not provided accurate information, we would investigate and take appropriate action. If we identify products that have evaded our age verification controls, we act immediately to address the issue.”
In a press launch, CAI explains that solely public prosecutors, like District Attorneys, are at the moment in a position to implement the regulation they allege Amazon is just not complying with and factors to a brand new invoice proposed by California Democratic State Senator Eloise Reyes to repair that.
“With the rise of technology and increased internet access, we must prioritize protecting our youth from greedy corporate businesses that prioritize profit over our youths’ safety,” Reyes stated about SB 659, often known as the Dad or mum’s Accountability and Little one Safety Act.
“Traditional retailers take necessary steps to verify age and comply with the law, the same should be true for online retailers. SB 659 holds retailers equally accountable by strengthening enforcement against illegal online sales. The bill increases the penalties for violating existing laws and empowers parents to take legal action against e-businesses that negligently violate consumer protections for children. Minors should be protected from unlawful purchases regardless of where the product is purchased.”
