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So if Amazon decide that some company is a dangerous competitor to them, and that company uses AWS, then they could just immediately shut down their competitor,

So if Amazon decide that some company is a dangerous competitor to them, and that company uses AWS, then they could just immediately shut down their competitor, because they could find some "hate content" on their website. What about thousands of hate articles sold in Germany by Amazon? Amazon is even selling "Mein Kampf" - a nazi book that is forbidden in Germany. Yeah, a terrorist content is absolutely OK if it's sold by Amazon.

yokoprime 6y ago
I think you're confusing free speech and capitalism. Amazon can boot you from their platform whenever they want. If however this violates the contract you have with them (e.g. there has been no violation of the ToS) you can sue for damages.
boruto 6y ago
I don't think Mein Kampf is banned in Germany.
- _ph_ 6y ago
  You are right, it isn't. The situation is complex though. After WWII the Bavarian state claimed copyrights of "Mein Kampf" as Hitler was registered as a Munich citizen. Based on this copyright, publishers were not allowed to print and import it. Sales of books printed before 1945 were still allowed, based on a ruling of the German supreme court. The copyrights have lapsed recently, so technically, the book can be printed and traded again in Germany, as long as you are not using it to promote otherwise illegal activities, like exhibiting the Swatiska as a political symbol. Also, it has been put on the index, this means, you cannot publically advertise it and sell it to underage persons. In the meantime, the Bavarian state has brought it to market again in a commented form. The original text is reproduced together with comments on the text. This issue is freely traded and even used in historical education at schools.
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detaro 6y ago
> So if Amazon decide that some company is a dangerous competitor to them, and that company uses AWS, then they could just immediately shut down their competitor, because they could find some "hate content" on their website. That's in the TOS, yes. Or actually, a lot more broader: activities "that may be harmful to others, our operations or reputation," are reasons for termination. (EDIT: I now actually wonder if they grant large customers with specially negotiated deals explicit changes to these terms - if you do a large multi-year contract, surely your lawyers would want some more security on that) Re your example, at least from a quick look at the search results, the versions of "Mein Kampf" Amazon.de offers are all legal to sell in Germany. (Its legal status was and is ... somewhat complicated, changed in recent years due to copyright expiring, and "it's banned" is not quite accurate)
watwut 6y ago
Mein Kampf is not forbidden in Germany. There is also nearly zero risk that Mein Kampf will radicalize contemporary people. It is not exactly persuasive piece of writing.

yokoprime 6y ago

I think you're confusing free speech and capitalism. Amazon can boot you from their platform whenever they want. If however this violates the contract you have with them (e.g. there has been no violation of the ToS) you can sue for damages.

boruto 6y ago

I don't think Mein Kampf is banned in Germany.

_ph_ 6y ago
You are right, it isn't. The situation is complex though. After WWII the Bavarian state claimed copyrights of "Mein Kampf" as Hitler was registered as a Munich citizen. Based on this copyright, publishers were not allowed to print and import it. Sales of books printed before 1945 were still allowed, based on a ruling of the German supreme court. The copyrights have lapsed recently, so technically, the book can be printed and traded again in Germany, as long as you are not using it to promote otherwise illegal activities, like exhibiting the Swatiska as a political symbol. Also, it has been put on the index, this means, you cannot publically advertise it and sell it to underage persons. In the meantime, the Bavarian state has brought it to market again in a commented form. The original text is reproduced together with comments on the text. This issue is freely traded and even used in historical education at schools.
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detaro 6y ago

> So if Amazon decide that some company is a dangerous competitor to them, and that company uses AWS, then they could just immediately shut down their competitor, because they could find some "hate content" on their website. That's in the TOS, yes. Or actually, a lot more broader: activities "that may be harmful to others, our operations or reputation," are reasons for termination. (EDIT: I now actually wonder if they grant large customers with specially negotiated deals explicit changes to these terms - if you do a large multi-year contract, surely your lawyers would want some more security on that) Re your example, at least from a quick look at the search results, the versions of "Mein Kampf" Amazon.de offers are all legal to sell in Germany. (Its legal status was and is ... somewhat complicated, changed in recent years due to copyright expiring, and "it's banned" is not quite accurate)

watwut 6y ago

Mein Kampf is not forbidden in Germany. There is also nearly zero risk that Mein Kampf will radicalize contemporary people. It is not exactly persuasive piece of writing.