Daniel Ellsberg Says Boycott Amazon

Open letter to Amazon.com Customer Service:

December 2, 2010

I’m disgusted by Amazon’s cowardice and servility in abruptly terminating today its hosting of the Wikileaks website, in the face of threats from Senator Joe Lieberman and other Congressional right-wingers. I want no further association with any company that encourages legislative and executive officials to aspire to China’s control of information and deterrence of whistle-blowing.

For the last several years, I’ve been spending over $100 a month on new and used books from Amazon. That’s over. I ask Amazon to terminate immediately my membership in Amazon Prime and my Amazon credit card and account, to delete my contact and credit information from their files and to send me no more notices.

I understand that many other regular customers feel as I do and are responding the same way. Good: the broader and more immediate the boycott, the better. I hope that these others encourage their contact lists to do likewise and to let Amazon know exactly why they’re shifting their business. I’ve asked friends today to suggest alternatives, and I’ll be exploring service from Powell’s Books, Half-Price Books, Biblio and others.

So far Amazon has spared itself the further embarrassment of trying to explain its action openly. This would be a good time for Amazon insiders who know and perhaps can document the political pressures that were brought to bear–and the details of the hasty kowtowing by their bosses–to leak that information. They can send it to Wikileaks (now on servers outside the US), to mainstream journalists or bloggers, or perhaps to sites like antiwar.com that have now appropriately ended their book-purchasing association with Amazon.

Yours (no longer),
Daniel Ellsberg

29 thoughts on “Daniel Ellsberg Says Boycott Amazon”

  1. Pingback: PayPal Cuts Of WikiLeaks | Arik Hesseldahl | NewEnterprise | AllThingsD

  2. Just deleted all of my account information and sent an email to Amazon customer service explaining that I will no longer shop with them explicitly because their actions in the case of Wikileaks.org. add me to the boycott!

  3. Auf solche Webhoster sollte man tunlichst verzichten. Da kann man erstmal erfahren was von einer Cloud zu erwarten ist. Man ist nicht mehr Herr seine eigenen Daten. Mein Vorschlag: AMAZON meiden.
    Ich jedenfalls werde dies ab sofort tun. Bin seit Beginn von AMAZON treu dabei gewesen, dies hat sich aber ab heute für mich schlagartig geändert. Ich werde diesen Dienern der Obrigkeit den Rücken kehren.
    Arno

  4. I am with you guyz amazon is dead for this they have done i am going to terminate my affiliate account with them immediately. Full blown cowards! Supporting injustice.

  5. It's easy to say you won't buy from Amazon anymore but how many of you have the courage to stop supporting the State (the bad guy) with your tax money? Are you afraid of what will happen to you? Can't afford the attorney's? Don't want to lose your house, your job? Don't want to go to prison? Amazon should take the risks, but not you? You guys are doing nothing but shooting yourselves in the knees while the State laughs. The DISGRACE is that most of these comments are so incredibly misdirected. Goodbye Antiwar.com.

    1. The law says we pay taxes. The law does not say companies of any size have to base decisions on calls from congressmen. Invalid comparison.

  6. Add PAYPAL to the boycott. That shitty organization today cut off WikiLeaks from receiving funding from them with the excuse that their TOS against illegal activity were violated.

    Q: When is it illegal to expose crimes?
    A: When the criminals are government officials.

  7. Boycotting Amazon will have a minimal effect. To really get them nervous you need to boycott the companies associated to or that advertise/sponsor them. I’ve just found out that Target is associated to Amazon, so good-bye Amazon and good-bye Target.

  9. Pingback: Boycott Amazon: Support openness & your local bookstore « Mike Soron

  10. Canceled my account. Too bad for them because just yesterday I was pricing about $1000 XMAS shopping with them. Some other business will be getting my money now. Don't forget to cancel your Paypal account now too.

  11. We should all keep in mind that Lieberman has likely directed Amazon to keep track of the recently closed accounts so they can be reported back to Hillary Hitler. The US Fed likes to take revenge don't you know.

  12. The campaign of the US politicians and other governments and companies against WikiLeaks ist highly illegal. It has been correctly named as the first information war.

    If governments think that the actions of WikiLeaks are illegal then they should take legal measures and should file law suits against WikiLeaks. That however is not done. Instead governments put pressure on companies in order to indirectly destroy WikiLeaks. It is done through companies like Amazon who have stopped letting server space to WikiLeaks and PayPal who have stopped forwarding money to WikiLeaks and through other means like DNS-Providers etc. Other governments are also looking into ways to illegally prevent access to the WikiLeaks website.

    If this illegal campaign with the combined efforts of companies and governments is successful it would create a dangerous precedent. Who would be next? No matter how one thinks about the way WikiLeaks works and discloses information it is now time so stand by WikiLeaks and stop this illegal joint internet warfare. They can pursue legal ways if they think that WikiLeaks has broken laws. But as this is not the case, the joint efforts of politicians and businesses against WiliLeaks is a criminal act.

    One way to protest is to send in emails to Amazon and PayPal and let them know that we are not going to do business with them anymore if they go forward with this. If they do not react then the ending of business relationships is necessary. I have done this and revoked an order with Amazon. I am going to donate the money to WikiLeaks instead and will terminate my accounts with Amazon and PayPal as they have not reacted and changed their mind. They stand against the freedom of information and against the people.

    Best wishes from Germany,

    Tim

  13. A big Hello to everyone!

    I've never even signed up for an Amazon account, and now I don't have think about it – ever again!

    I think what has happened in the past week and is continuing to happen, is that the we 'the people' and the vast majority stake-holders of the planet, (please excuse the ambitious wording- but it's the sentiment that counts) are seeing perhaps for the first time the awakening of REAL democracy between and genuinely for the people courtesy of the unrivalled power of the internet and put to amazingly positive use.

    See how the pathetically sinister and privileged interests of our world inhabited by the all too familiar and bizarre circus of two-faced and arrogant politicians shudder and drawback in great fear. They are now seriously quaking – very nervously- in their all-expenses-paid boots, at the future thought and fact of secret state information (as they foolishly regard it) leaking into the public domain.

    Try as they might to silence Wikileaks.org from re-distributing the truth about the activities of our ever less than open national governments, the wikileaks.org cables and their gradual release is a ground-breaking event from which, owing the fundamental design of the internet 'a safe and secure return to normality' might not be a fact that can be assured for the future regard the gravy-train life style many national leaders and politicians expect, courtesy of the taxes demanded and taken from (and largely wasted), 'in the name of the people'.

    These revelations which are unravelling the confidence of manipulating the workings of our 'sudo-democracies' by which the peoples of the world are poorly governed, are being tested by this out-pouring of "freedom of information". People who might have thought that the truth is only open to the highest bidder or can only be seen from far off in historical places, can now renewed have hope.

    Make no mistake, this is just the beginning…

    PS: if there are any errors in this blog comment, please overlook mistakes this time round!

  14. Good on you all, I have the same view and have cancelled my account with Amazon UK, I will be urging everyone I know to do the same. What a bunch of moneymaking cowards.
    MB London

  15. I will never place an order at Amazon after this. I will close my Paypal account since Paypal has stopped all payments to Wikileaks.

  16. So are you trying to say that WikiLeaks has ultimate freedom in their actions, but that we shouldn't let Amazon have the freedom to choose to enforce their ToS?… Seem s crazy to me.
    I like WikiLeaks and I like Amazon. I don't see how this recent activity by both parties should change my feelings about either one.

  17. A big hello to everyone! (reprise)

    Thinking again about my long-winded piece earlier, perhaps I should have just said the following:

    I had thought one or twice in the past about the idea of signing up to Amazon, but it always seemed too much to do for a book. I have enough books and ways of buying them without the need to involve Amazon anyway.

    Thanks to Amazon's treachery, I won't have any future need to consider their services ever again.

  18. I cancelled my account yesterday and I'm asking others on my website to boykott Amazon.
    Wolfgang

  20. I have just mailed the following to Amazon and another 50-60 Amazon dealers:

    To Amazon:

    I was appalled when I heard today of Amazon's cavalier treatment of Wikileaks. I am a customer of many years of Amazon UK, France and Germany, and I was about to begin using the brand new services of Amazon.it. I had made a habit of requesting Amazon gift certificates for all gift occasions, and made sure that whenever possible these were reciprocated in like manner, primarily through the use of Amazon.com. Unfortunately, I cannot continue doing this in good conscience.

    Unless Amazon takes decisive action to reverse and redress in a convincing and unequivocal manner the damage so caused to the community, I shall have no other choice than to suspend all activity on my account. Needless to say, the parody of a justification which Amazon has publicised so far will not do.

    Moreover, I had an Amazon Kindle on my wish list. As things stand, I shall have to look for an alternative device.

    Regards,

    J.M. Dyer

    This mail will be copied to as many Amazon Market Place dealers as possible from whom I have made purchases in the past.

    —

    [Si vous n'arrivez pas à comprendre la teneur ce courriel, n'hésitez pas me contacter. Merci.]

  24. Thank you Mr. Ellsberg. I have said goodbye to Amazon after an almost decade-long love affair with them. As Reporters Without Borders stated today, "…in the United States it is up to the courts, not politicians, to decide whether or not a website should be closed." However, if other US companies are as cowardly as Amazon is, we may not need the courts at all.

  27. I closed my account today. I will miss the convenience, but they will never see a nickel of my money again.

  28. Never was a customer to amazon so thats not the problem for me. But paypal bye, bye!

  31. Please please publish an account number where I can donate to Wickyleaks. Their site is closed down, and I would like to donate. Soon perhaps all banks are doing the same – i.e. closing down Wickileaks accounts! I hope they have a strategy for that …

  32. Letter to Amazon: Please cancel my account and all associated information. You did a good job and I was pleased to be your client for years, but your action against Wikileaks is just disgusting, and even more your "legal justifications". Wikileaks did not use copyright materials (the cables have no copyright) and to argue with human rights (!) is just too much. Wikileaks shows (and prooves) how extended is the violation of human rights of Governments. To argue now that by banning Wikileaks from your servers you are defending human rights activists is taking us for fools. You deeply disappointed me.

    1. I just did that on their website.

      "Is it true that you are a customer of Amazon? If it is, then I suggest that you do what so many of us have done: disengage."

    2. I just heard from the Anti-war website:

      In the past year, Antiwar.com has received about $10,000 from Amazon.com for referrals on the sale of books and merchandise. We cannot continue to profit from or deal with Amazon.com. We are removing the Amazon ads and book widgets from our website, and urge other supporters of WikiLeaks to join the boycott.
      Angela Keaton
      Development Director
      Antiwar.com
      Producer, Antiwar Radio
      Office: 1 323-512-7095
      Cell: 1 310-729-3760
      FAX: 602-801-2659
      http://antiwar.com/donate

  34. Now it looks like eBay should be on the chopping block too: almost all sales there go through its (I believe) wholly owned subsidiary, PayPal.

    1. Most of ebay's stuff is overpriced anyway (may have something to do with their 9% sales fee, not including other fees), I rarely use them. Already closed my paypal account.

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  36. hi, from australia. after spending hundreds of dollars on books, dvds i am disgusteed with the actions of amazon. in order to protest my feelings i have thus decided to close my account. i have also cancelled my paypal account for the same reasons.

    1. As an Australian you can lead a campaign to award Assange with the Companion of the Order of Australian. Search the internet to find the form.

  37. I will join as of now, boycott Amazon, please someone start a boycott amazon campaign at all com websites like facebook and myspace and twitter

  40. I am all for free speech and all, however I don't understand why everyone is ignoring this rationale so please enlighten me. Amazon explains that their policy states that you cannot post content on their site if you are not the owner which also could mean if you do not have permission from the owner to post it. Amazon therefore has to honor their own policy otherwise they could be accused of discrimination or playing favourites. Since the govt. owns the leaked documents, the gov could sue/reprimand Amazon for not honoring their own policy. How is that cowardice? You have a policy, you have to honor it otherwise be prepared to face the consequences.

    Having said that, I agree that those sites that do not have such a policy should have offered to host wikileaks and I hope they do.

    2. The idea is that the government is in place to serve the people, not the other way around. The information harbored by the US government is therefore long overdue to the people. Legality is another issue entirely, but suffice it to say that a state evolving in the direction of fascism will change the law to best suit government anyway, no matter the costs to the people. So if this information is not legally owned by USG, just you wait. The time to fight back is now, not when fascism rules the land.

  42. Long boring process takes about two days and they won't let go easily.
    "Hello,

    I want to make sure that closing your Amazon.com account won't cause problems with any open transactions or other websites you might visit.

    If you still want to close your Amazon.com account after reviewing the items below, please write back by visiting this link:

    Http: blah blah blah.

    Here are some things to keep in mind:
    — If you use your Amazon.com log-in on other sites (e.g., Endless.com, Audible.com, etc.), you'll also lose access to those accounts.
    — Any open orders you have will be canceled.
    — If you have a remaining Amazon.com Gift Card balance, you won't have
    — You'll no longer have access to your Associates, Amazon Web Services".

    Yes all is clear. I have closed all accounts thank you.
    This is the only account left please close this one also thank you.

    Sincerely,
    Philip Davidson
    V! WikiLeaks

  43. Another great site for books (both new and used) is the Canada based ABEBOOKS.COM, a network of thousands of independent booksellers throughout the world.

  44. Almost put an order in today. This feels right. Human beings DO make these decisions and I believe they wish more pressure WAS on them to do the RIGHT thing. Sheepleship Hey Amazon, " YOU SELL
    BOOKS"! Information for the people to read, Do the right thing! Tell Lieberman to censor somebody else.

  45. Everyone is talking about the right as if conservatives are the only ones against WikiLeaks. The Democrats are speaking against them too. Even Obama, who asked for a more transparent government.

  46. amazon-account: closed. paypal-account: closed. now only ebay is left, but not much longer. let’s start finally the guerllia-war. wake up your friends and their friends.

    –> davidicke dot com & infowars dot com

  49. Pingback: Killing the Messenger: Corporate Media and Politicians v. Julian Assange and Wikileaks | NEWS JUNKIE POST

  50. Thanks, Daniel. I will cancel Amazon and Paypall in the morning. I will sleep better tonight knowing that there are more people like me who see the light, and do what is right no matter how inconverient. Unconditional Love to us all. Gloria

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