E-Commerce Giants Amazon, Wish, Google Remove Neo-Nazi Merchandise From Platforms Following Investigation

E-commerce giants Amazon, Wish and Google have removed neo-Nazi merchandise off their platforms following an investigation by BBC News.

One of the racist items for purchase on Amazon was a white supremacist flag with a Celtic cross. According to the Anti-Defamation League, a version of this cross was used by Norwegian Nazis in the 1930’s and 40’s, with the symbol also being used as the logo of white supremacist website Stormfront. A burning rainbow flag was also found on the site, a symbol of hate towards LGBT people.

Amazon has since removed these products, telling the BBC “we've taken action on the bad actors that offered the products and violated our policies."

Online retailer Wish also had Ku Klux-Klan products such as the hood used by members of the group. A product with the Celtic cross was also found on the site.

Tech company Google removed racist material from its Google Play and Google Books platforms in response to the investigation.

The recent nationwide protests over racial injustice have prompted greater concern towards racist symbols in popular culture. E-commerce giants have been targeted before over racist products, with Amazon taking down Nazi-themed flags, patches and other paraphernalia in 2018 following criticism from advocacy groups.

Social media companies are also taking hard measures towards racist organizations. Facebook recently took down 900 accounts linked to white supremacist groups such as The Proud Boys in June.