(Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc said on Monday it was working to remove some QAnon products from its online marketplace, citing policies banning offensive items or other inappropriate content.
The world’s largest online retailer has launched an investigation into clothing with QAnon badges and related books on sale days after followers of QAnon joined the siege of the US Capitol last week, killing five people.
Supporters of QAnon repelled conspiracies on social media based on websites of the anonymous “Q”, citing the knowledge of US President Donald Trump’s government. These include the unfounded allegation that Trump is secretly fighting a cabal of child predators, including prominent Democrats and figures in Hollywood.
Amazon’s action follows a decision to stop using the web content of Parler, a social network used by some Trump supporters. The company alleges that Parler violated the terms of service of its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS), because it did not handle an increase in violent social media. Parler sued AWS Monday in response.
Amazon has in the past come under fire for – and removing the list of products – that promote extremist views, such as books that deny the Holocaust.
Reporting by Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Elizabeth Culliford and Katie Paul; Edited by Christopher Cushing