4 ms·

The Silk Road was not directly selling drugs, it was only a marketplace where other sellers did it, and for this reason it was taken down. AFAIK selling a count

The Silk Road was not directly selling drugs, it was only a marketplace where other sellers did it, and for this reason it was taken down. AFAIK selling a counterfeit item is a crime too, so shouldn’t Amazon be treated the same ? One could argue that the Silk Road was created with the purpose of enabling the crime, unlike Amazon, but with the problem becoming bigger every day I think that Amazon knows about it very well but doesn’t act because it is against their economic interest, making it complicit of the crime

theplumber 4y ago
The law is being bent all the time. If your business is big enough the gov will not come after you unless there is a political twist(i.e Sackler family) and even then you will not face criminal charges.
ajross 4y ago
> One could argue that the Silk Road was created with the purpose of enabling the crime, unlike Amazon And... that would be exactly why, yes. Intent matters in the law, and the burden on a seller isn't perfection but merely "good faith". Amazon clears that bar, probably[1]. Silk Road very clearly did not. Also, of course, drug and weapons trading gets a vastly higher level of attention from law enforcement than counterfeit hardcopies of tech books. This analogy doesn't really fly. It's like asking why police execute arrest warrants more reliably for murder suspects vs. shoplifters. [1] There are very reasonable arguments to be had about whether they should be doing more and what internet market-makers' responsibilities are here. I don't expect this HN thread to illuminate them though.
- phpisthebest 4y ago
  >>It's like asking why police execute arrest warrants more reliably for murder suspects vs. shoplifters. ironically the number of unsolved murders is at record high because murders are not actually the focus of most law enforcement resources. it is also a terrible analogy because murder and shoplifting are much further apart on the criminality scale (both in severity and possible punishment) than Drugs and Counterfeits are, which in reality both have about the same levels of severity and punishment classification under the law
throwawaycommen 4y ago
I was arrested for linking to a 'terrorist' publication that was FOR SALE ON AMAZON. And the only reason I linked to it was to point out it was for sale so how could it be illegal? Places like Amazon aren't held to the same standard as regular people and that really needs to change.
- Enginerrrd 4y ago
  I understand if you don't want to say, but do you mind if I ask which country arrested you?
  - elashri 4y ago
    It is a throwaway account made just to comment that. So I doubt he/she will say as they might be uncomfortable doing that even with a throwaway account.
- 93po 4y ago
  Was it The Anarchist Cookbook?
phpisthebest 4y ago
It is a long been established that major platforms are given a pass both socially and legally where independent operators never would. It is not right but that is the world we live in currently, "Big Tech" can get away with more than any startup ever could

theplumber 4y ago

The law is being bent all the time. If your business is big enough the gov will not come after you unless there is a political twist(i.e Sackler family) and even then you will not face criminal charges.

ajross 4y ago

> One could argue that the Silk Road was created with the purpose of enabling the crime, unlike Amazon And... that would be exactly why, yes. Intent matters in the law, and the burden on a seller isn't perfection but merely "good faith". Amazon clears that bar, probably[1]. Silk Road very clearly did not. Also, of course, drug and weapons trading gets a vastly higher level of attention from law enforcement than counterfeit hardcopies of tech books. This analogy doesn't really fly. It's like asking why police execute arrest warrants more reliably for murder suspects vs. shoplifters. [1] There are very reasonable arguments to be had about whether they should be doing more and what internet market-makers' responsibilities are here. I don't expect this HN thread to illuminate them though.

phpisthebest 4y ago
>>It's like asking why police execute arrest warrants more reliably for murder suspects vs. shoplifters. ironically the number of unsolved murders is at record high because murders are not actually the focus of most law enforcement resources. it is also a terrible analogy because murder and shoplifting are much further apart on the criminality scale (both in severity and possible punishment) than Drugs and Counterfeits are, which in reality both have about the same levels of severity and punishment classification under the law

throwawaycommen 4y ago

I was arrested for linking to a 'terrorist' publication that was FOR SALE ON AMAZON. And the only reason I linked to it was to point out it was for sale so how could it be illegal? Places like Amazon aren't held to the same standard as regular people and that really needs to change.

Enginerrrd 4y ago
I understand if you don't want to say, but do you mind if I ask which country arrested you?
- elashri 4y ago
  It is a throwaway account made just to comment that. So I doubt he/she will say as they might be uncomfortable doing that even with a throwaway account.
93po 4y ago
Was it The Anarchist Cookbook?

phpisthebest 4y ago

It is a long been established that major platforms are given a pass both socially and legally where independent operators never would. It is not right but that is the world we live in currently, "Big Tech" can get away with more than any startup ever could