Amazon, that company Jeff Bezos started?
The Jeff Bezos that was good friends with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and that even invited the couple to his private, invitation online, weekend retreat at a private resort he rented out?
That Amazon?
Surprised that a company founded by a chap like Jeff Bezos becomes so shitty and evil?
Apparently mine are boring. I don’t buy a whole heck of a lot on Amazon because of the usual litany of reasons. My department profiles basically boil down to “buys knives” (you don’t fuckin’ say) and “buys 3D printer filament.”
There is also such super secret data as “likely lives in [town I live in].” Yes, that’s where my shipping address is. How much electricity did you burn connecting those two dots with your stupid AI?
My favorite is it says I “might” live in the town in my shipping address. They’re not sure.
This sounds just like mine.
Lives in … Buys a ton of 3d printer filament DIY vehicle maintenance
I systematically build a computer accessory ecosystem?
Also, who is the second person living with me?
Hey. Glad we finally got to meet. Sorry about leaving the chips on the counter the other night.
You ate them? Do you know how hard it is to get ketchup Doritos here?
This kind of inferred information is useful for them (in some cases), of course. But I can’t help myself wondering if those more ridiculous tidbits are meant for viral marketing. They made everyone talk about Amazon (in somewhat non-negative way) again, right?
Everything they present seems geared towards selling me something. I imagine it is likely worth it for them and checks a box regarding customer information.
Oh, yes. I am sure the original point of making this information available in the first place is following some legislation. It’s just interesting how suddenly everyone’s talking about flat butt and other tidbits, (of course they are, it’s funny) so I wonder whether that was engineered to get this kind of response. Maybe I’m just too cynical these days.
Most journalism is starved to produce any content, so I can see a tech site willing to publish an article like this.
I’ve seen enough technical decisions get made to feel like no one in the room probably understood that this could happen; if anything they were probably worried about telling customers they have a flat ass.
Amazon is definitely a company willing to deceptive things as a way to get ahead, but they aren’t all knowing and all powerful.
The headline makes it sound as if this was a new development, or as if that’s about all the tracking Amazon does. Neither is true.
Several people in the past decade have investigated what exactly Amazon has on you by asking for their private data.That said, this really could be news to Verge readers, esp. those that are unable to look for news sources outside the USA’s borders.
I have never had an amazon account or used amazon to buy anything. I will admit, there has been a couple of times it is annoying that I cannot find something or I may have to buy something that is more expensive. But it has been definitely worth it. Not just for the sake of privacy, but to not support that scumbag Bezos or the millions of knockoff chinese sellers trying to undercut mom and pop stores.
Does not look like they do this on German Amazon.
Not sure about today, but historically I’m sure Katharina Nocun would disagree.
I am sure they collect it. But they do not show it freely. Katharina had to request all the data, what the OP article talks about is just shown without any request.
