Faced with growing condemnations over their decision yesterday to shut down WikiLeaks’ website Amazon.com finally offered a defense today, insisting that despite claims to the contrary Sen. Lieberman’s (I – CT) threats played no role in the decision to silence the whistleblower.
Amazon Spokesman Drew Herdener insisted that the move came because they felt WikiLeaks’ whistleblowing violated a Terms of Service ban on content that might “cause injury to any person or entity.” Herdener’s statement insisted WikiLeaks couldn’t possibly have redacted its documents in such a way to ensure that they wouldn’t hurt anybody.
Which seems an odd claim, as Amazon had apparently been hosting WikiLeaks for quite some time and hadn’t removed them during previous links, only doing so a few hours after Sen. Lieberman’s office called and demanded they remove the content on the grounds that it was embarrassing to the US government.
Herdener’s secondary claim, that WikiLeaks “doesn’t own or otherwise control all the rights to this classified content” is likewise misleading, as the US government, the creator of the content, is explicitly forbidden from copyrighting any of its content. Intellectual property claims cannot possibly be a justifcation.
Rather it seems the claims, mixed with the allegation that WikiLeaks is “putting innocent people in jeopardy,” suggests Amazon.com is trying to portray its move subtly as a political decision to support US government secrecy instead of the overt cowardice that Sen. Lieberman’s statement suggested it was.
Which is unlikely to placate anyone. Amazon.com was already facing a growing call for boycotts (including from Antiwar.com) on the basis of giving in to the Senator’s demands, and suggesting it was just a happy coincidence that they and Sen. Lieberman see eye-to-eye on the issue of silencing the dissident website is probably even worse from this perspective.
Though Amazon.com’s Terms of Service do give them the right to ban anyone they want, essentially for any reason, the decision to do so apparently without any contact to WikiLeaks, rendering the website unusuable for much of Wednesday morning while they transitioned to a new, less Liebermanesque host, was extremely unprofessional, and made a lot of enemies the e-commerce site probably didn’t need.
Nazis hate Wikileaks for showing the people how the sausage is made.
12:45 central time and wikileaks is down. Julian's arrest is supposed to be immanent and I feel depressed.
It's been like watching a spy movie the past few days with it so clear who the the evil villains are. Nothing less than freedom of the press and free speech are under attack by the biggest most powerful tax jurisdiction on earth. A truly sickeningly contemptible American media and unbelievably arrogant US government that claims jurisdiction over every human and animal on the planet versus a brash young group of ex-computer hackers. I hope there's a happy ending.
Not exactly the response I was hoping for.
Antiwar.com keepS repeating that there is growing CALL FOR BOYCOTTS (including from Antiwar.com).
But, WHERE?
Can you please, at least, give name and link to the website (if any) where petition is being signed. We should be collecting millions of signature to never to do business with Amazon and shred the amazon lap dog, CEO, jeff bezos.
http://criminaljustice.change.org/petitions/view/…
try craigs list, just joking ,maybe
I agree with the previous comment.
There needs to be web site to organize a boycott of Amazon. I would do so if I had the computer skills and did not have a day job which is overwhelming right now.
If AW.C knows of anyone doing this, please let us all know.
john v. walsh
p.s. I cancelled my account by phone day before yesterday. Purchases can easily be made in many other ways. Amazon is simply a well known brand whose services are duplicated by many others.
Support Assange – boycott amazon.com
Already fired off a letter to the Amazon lackeys and resolved to never purchase from them again until they come clean about this whole sorry mess. Of course they're going to claim it was their choice to cut off WikiLeaks, but in doing so they only make themselves look even more cowardly for not owning up to their submitting to the will of an already-contemptible Senator.
This was a damned if you do, damned if you don't for amazon. If they didn't drop wikileaks then the state would have found a way to destroy them (and the looneys that hate wikileaks for telling the truth woud boycott them). But if they do drop the site, then the friends of liberty and freedom are going to boycott them? I don't understand it. Yes it would be nice to see them support the worthy cause, but they don't NEED to stick their neck out at amazon. This reminds me of 1984, except people are mad at Winston because he allowed himself to be victimized by Big Brother. Amazon is a victim of the state's bullying. They were going to be beaten either way. So why do we withdrawl our support from them when they are still willing to support us? Yeah, it sucks that they aren't defending wikileaks, but by doing that they live to fight again tomorrow. I for one will NOT boycott amazon. I don't think it is wise to completely discrace a friend of liberty because they were beaten in one aspect. They will still suport us at Antiwar and LRC in our fight against the state if only we let them. To decline their support in our efforts is folly.
I support your arguments, they make sense.
It’s laughable that Joe Liebersnake is still a senator. He doesn’t represent people or citizens. He represents corporations, israel, and the military industrial complex.
I did change the name of my Amazon account to Julian Assange withe email WikiLeaks@…
And I killed all notifications. If I ever hear from them I will sue them,
W
I am Spartacus
No wikileak connection to the 41,081 american dead so far in 2010 due to lack of health care in the USA.
Happy to stop buying from Amazon.com. Good riddance to bad garbage.
What is Bezos thinking? That he's "too big to fail?"
The boycott should be expanded, most especially to include PayPal.
What a joke Amazon! You've severely damaged your own reputation taking this stance. I've always used your services, but now, never again… and I'm sure there are many others that feel the same way. You're giving a massive finger to all the people that fight for net neutrality… people that use the internet… ie.. your primary customers?? how many orders do the US government put into Amazon every year compared to domestic users I wonder? I hope it costs you guys millions!!!