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eBay's community is a diverse, international group of users with varied backgrounds and beliefs, and it's easy to imagine how some items listed on eBay might be offensive to at least some of our users somewhere in the world. But one of eBay's great strengths is the diversity of its membership and the items they trade. eBay believes that it is important to respect (and learn from) that diversity. That's why eBay generally permits listings of "practically anything on earth," even items which most of us find offensive.
Fundamentally, eBay is a community, and members of a community must respect each other as human beings. Listings that promote hate, violence or racial intolerance (or organisations dedicated to such notions) have no place in a true community — we're all here to trade, to do business, and to have fun with each other. eBay will not become a platform for those who promote hatred toward their fellow man. Further, eBay is now a world wide community, with many users residing in countries where the possession or sale of items associated with hate organisations is a criminal offence.
eBay has always exercised judgment in allowing or disallowing certain listings consistent with the spirit of a world wide community. Therefore, eBay will judiciously disallow listings or items that promote hatred, violence, or racial intolerance, including items that promote organizations (such as KKK, Nazi, neo-Nazis, Aryan Nation) who profess such views. For example, eBay will generally remove items that bear the marks of such organisations, such as relics from the KKK or certain Nazi memorabilia.
In light of strict criminal provisions in the UK and Ireland, eBay listings may not include items that imply or promote support or membership in the Irish Republic Army (IRA), the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) or the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), or any other prohibited organisations under UK or Irish law or that appear to be listed for the purpose of funding these organisations or any other prohibited organisations under UK or Irish law.
Under this policy, eBay may in its discretion, remove items and refund listing fees when the item or description graphically portrays violence or victims of violence, and lacks substantial social, artistic or political value. For example, eBay may disallow sales of explicit crime scene photographs or morgue photos, while permitting military documentaries or photographs of war victims. eBay may also, in its discretion and out of respect for the families of murder victims, remove listings of items closely associated with individuals notorious for committing murderous acts within the last 100 years, such as personal belongings of such criminals, letters or artwork created by such criminals, or novelty items that bear the name or image of the criminal.
Further, eBay will remove any listing and suspend the users involved where it appears that a person convicted of a violent felony is attempting to use eBay (directly or through another person) to benefit financially from his or her criminal notoriety. eBay will review listings that are brought to its attention by its world wide community, and will look at the entire listing to determine whether it falls within this rule.
Examples of items that will generally be removed:
- Items that bear symbols of the Nazis, the SS, or the KKK, including authentic German WWII memorabilia that bears such marks, whether visible or covered.
- Items that were owned by or affiliated with Nazi leaders
- Music or films that promote hatred and racial supremacy
- Holocaust denial books
- Crime scene photographs
- Morgue shots
- Letters and artwork from notorious murderers
- Electric chairs and related capital punishment items
Examples of items that may generally be listed:
- German coins and stamps from the WWII era regardless of markings
- WWII memorabilia that does not bear the Nazi or SS markings
- Books and films about WWII or Nazi Germany that do not contain propaganda, even if the Nazi symbol appears on the item.
- War documentaries or documentary photos portraying victims of war or violence provided they do not contain propaganda
- Items of historical importance associated with acts of violence against public figures.
Items Related to Natural Disasters or Human Tragedies
eBay doesn't permit listings that graphically portray, glorify or attempt to profit from human tragedy or suffering, which lack substantial social, artistic, or political value. This includes items that may be deemed inappapropriate or insensitive to victims of natural disasters or human tragedies.
Exception: Items related to natural disasters or human tragedies that have substantial social, artistic, or political value are generally permitted on eBay. Such items may include newspaper clippings, documentaries, books, and commemorative photographs or paintings.
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