Computer software will sniff out items that appear to violate the site's policies. Inc. will stop carrying online auctions of Nazi artifacts and other hate-related materials after some users complained that such items promote hate and violence. The new guidelines will also apply to the site's classified listings and its e-commerce partners. But Mark Gambale, a consultant at Gomez Inc. in Waltham, Mass., questioned the timing.
International law has a unique way of evolving.
Computer software will reject any item that appears to violate the site's policies. Users will be able to appeal rejections to a human being. Auction sites have typically rejected items only after they are posted. They join a banned list that now includes cigarettes, live animals and used underwear. Sellers may not ship such items there, and buyers from those countries may not bid on them.