Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/16pdf/15-1194_08l1.pdf
Page Number: 20

Cite as:  582 U. S. ____ (2017) 

7 

ALITO, J., concurring in judgment 

meets  all  four  requirements  of  §14–202.5’s  definition  of  a 
commercial social networking website.  First, as a seller of 
products,  Amazon  unquestionably  derives  revenue  from 
the  operation  of  its  website.    Second,  the  Amazon  site 
facilitates the social introduction of people for the purpose 
of  information  exchanges.  When  someone  purchases  a
product on Amazon, the purchaser can review the product 
and  upload  photographs,  and  other  buyers  can  then  re-
spond  to  the  review.6   This  information  exchange  about
products  that  Amazon  sells  undoubtedly  fits  within  the 
definition in §14–202.5.  It is the equivalent of passengers
on  a  bus  comparing  notes  about  products  they  have  pur-
chased.  Third, Amazon allows a user to create a personal
profile, which is then associated with the product reviews
that  the  user  uploads.    Such  a  profile  can  contain  an  as-
sortment of information, including the user’s name, e-mail 
address,  and  picture.7    And  fourth,  given  its  back-and-
forth  comment  function,  Amazon  satisfies  the  final  statu-
tory requirement.8 

Many news websites are also covered by this definition. 
For example, the Washington Post’s website gives minors 
access9 and  satisfies the four elements that  define a com-
—————— 

6 See  Amazon,  About  Customer  Reviews,  https://www.amazon.com/ 
gp/help/customer/display.html/ref =hp_left_v4_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=
201967050;  Amazon,  About  Public  Activity,  https://www.amazon.com/
gp/ help/ customer/ display.html / ref = hp_left_v4_sib?ie = UTF8&nodeId = 
202076150. 

7 See  Amazon,  About  Your  Profile,  https://www.amazon.com/
gp/help/customer/display.html/ref =hp_left_v4_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=
202076210;  Amazon,  About  Public  Information,  https://www.amazon.com/
gp/help/customer/display.html/ref =help_search_1-2?ie =UTF8&nodeId = 
202076170&qid=1490835739&sr=1-2. 

8 Amazon  does  not  appear  to  fall  within  the  statute’s  exemption  for
websites  that  have  as  their  “primary  purpose  the  facilitation  of  com-
mercial  transactions  involving  goods  or  services  between  its  members 
or  visitors.”    §14–202.5(c)(2).    Amazon’s  primary  purpose  seems  to  be
the facilitation of commercial transactions between its users and itself. 

9 See Washington Post, Terms of Service (July 1, 2014),  https://www.