CALIFORNIA: American multinational e-commerce corporation Inc. eBay has decided to ban the sale of most sexually explicit materials starting June 15, 2021, the platform’s updated adult-items policy revealed on Monday.
According to the platform, eBay plans to redirect the steamier auction items to a “Mature Audiences” area, bar all pornographic-related items and bar retailers from using graphic sexual pictures in the listings.
“Most adult-only items are prohibited. Items containing nudity must meet the updated guidelines and will be reviewed by the platform before being put up for sale,” reads the new policy on the eBay website.
As per the new policy, “eBay defines nudity as showing any part of male or female genitalia, anus, or female breasts where the areola or nipple is visible.”
Modeled clothing that is see-through or very tight and shows human genitalia, the anus, or the nipple/areola of female breasts will be prohibited alongside male erections, even if the model is clothed, as well as people engaged in sexual contact or activity.
Prohibited adult-only items also include ‘sexually explicit anime, comics, books, films, animation, manga, hentai, yaoi’ as well as adult films and video games. Users may not be able to buy games some of their favourite games if they contain sexually suggestive visuals or nudity as described in the policy.
Furthermore, from July 15, 2021, the Adult Only category will no longer be available for new listings on eBay. The company also decided to take action against sellers who do not abide by the new policy.
eBay is only the latest online marketplace to confront questions about pornography. Soon after Amazon.com launched its zShops storefronts, customers found weapons, sadomasochistic equipment and pornographic videos on the site, some of which violated Amazon’s rules. And a system problem on Yahoo last fall removed a verification system and allowed all auction members to see pornographic images and listings.
