eBay explicitly bans AI "buy for me" agents in user agreement update
Recorded: Jan. 22, 2026, 11:03 a.m.
| Original | Summarized |
eBay Explicitly Bans AI “Buy For Me” Agents, Updates Arbitration & Dispute Rules In User Agreement Update
Skip to content 📍 Home Log in 🌙 Latest All Ads AI Amazon Earnings eBay eBay Cyberstalking Etsy Legal Mercari News Poshmark TCGPlayer Tech Issues eBay Explicitly Bans AI “Buy For Me” Agents, Updates Arbitration & Dispute Rules In User Agreement Update Liz Morton Published: Jan 21 2026 Comments Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share via Email Copy link
eBay explicitly prohibits AI "buy for me" agents and LLM (larger language model) bots, updates arbitration and dispute resolution requirements in latest User Agreement update, going into effect February 20, 2026.The following summary of changes was provided in an email sent to users: We clarified the scope of the class action waiver. As always, sellers are encouraged to read the entire updated terms carefully, but Value Added Resource has you covered with a side by side comparison highlighting some key changes.Disclaimer: comparisons are made using both automated and manual methods and are provided for informational purposes only - no warranty of completeness or accuracy is expressed or implied and users are advised to do their own due diligence.AI Agents & LLM ScrapingFirst, as the summary calls out, eBay is explicitly prohibiting AI "buy for me" agents and LLM scraping bots from interacting with the platform without permission from eBay.Old Version: New Version: The move comes after eBay quietly changed their robots.txt file with new guidance placing guardrails and restrictions on how AI agents interact with the site in December.eBay Encourages Buyers & Sellers To Use AI For The Holidays While Quietly Updating AI Agent PolicyeBay encourages buyers & sellers to “unwrap innovation” with AI this holiday season, quietly adds guardrails on how AI agents interact with site.Value Added ResourceLiz MortonIt also comes on the heels of Amazon's controversial Buy For Me test which uses agentic AI to display items from direct merchant websites for sale through the Amazon app, even if the brand does not sell on Amazon themselves - raising concerns about transparency, consent, and control over how product details are displayed to buyers.Amazon’s “Buy For Me” Agentic AI Sparks Backlash As Small Businesses Say Listings Are Being HijackedSmall businesses say Amazon’s “Buy For Me” agentic AI uses their product data without consent, causing pricing, fulfillment & buyer trust concerns.Value Added ResourceLiz MortonWhile it appears that Amazon Buy For Me currently does not pull inventory from other third party marketplaces, it would not be surprising if eBay is reacting at least in part to this and other agentic commerce news making recent headlines.Arbitration & Dispute ResolutionThe rest of the changes in this User Agreement update affect arbitration and dispute resolution.eBay's previous User Agreement update in May 2025 made significant changes to arbitration terms and limits on lawsuits, forcing users to give up their right to the sue the company in many situations.eBay User Agreement Update May 2025: New Arbitration Terms & Limits On LawsuitseBay has released an update to their user agreement with significant changes to arbitration terms & limits on lawsuits, effective May 16th 2025.Value Added ResourceLiz MortonIn this update, eBay has finally updated the address to send arbitration opt out requests and other legal correspondence to since selling their former office in Draper, UT in 2024.Old Version: New Version: Most importantly, eBay has expanded their arbitration clause which previously prohibited class actions to now also explicitly exclude more types of group legal actions.Old Version: New Version: Here's what that means in plain language:“Not as a plaintiff or class member” — prevents someone from joining an existing class action.“No private attorney general actions” — blocks lawsuits brought “on behalf of the public,” a type of claim sometimes used in consumer protection cases.“Nor… for losses incurred by a third party” — prevents a person from trying to recover damages suffered by someone else.Note: this language does not in any way change or restrict legal action that state Attorneys General, the FTC or other regulatory or legal agencies can take on behalf of sellers and/or consumers - so don't be dissuaded from letting those agencies know about your experiences with the platform, like the recent changes to Promoted Listings ad attribution policies.A Seller’s Guide To Speaking Up: How To Report eBay’s New Ad Policies To The FTC & State AGsConcerned about eBay’s controversial new Promoted Listings ad rules? Here’s how to file effective, proactive reports with FTC & AGs to make your voice heard!Value Added ResourceLiz MortonAnd finally, this User Agreement update has been changed to clarify that only new users may request to opt out of arbitration agreement - existing users missed their opportunity if they did not opt out before May 16, 2025. And that's it for changes to eBay's User Agreement going into effect February 20, 2026.Let us know in the comments below what you think of these change and how they'll affect your business! eBayAISeller Updates Liz Morton Liz Morton is a 17 year ecommerce pro turned indie investigative journalist providing ad-free deep dives on eBay, Amazon, Etsy & more, championing sellers & advocating for corporate accountability. You might also like Poshmark Responds To Seller Backlash With New Updates, Pledges Greater Transparency In 2026 Paid Poshmark responds to seller backlash with new platform updates and a pledge for greater transparency under new leadership in 2026. Published:Jan 18 26 Poshmark
Etsy Locks Down Technical Issues Forum, Raising Fresh Concerns About Transparency Paid Etsy quietly privatized its Technical Issues forum, prompting new questions about transparency, moderation failures, & seller visibility issues. Published:Jan 15 26 Etsy
Value Added Resource Newsletter
RSS Recent Comments Featured Posts A Seller’s Guide To Speaking Up: How To Report eBay’s New Ad Policies To The FTC & State AGs
eBay Exposed: A Social Experiment In Free Speech & Corporate Accountability
From CIA To Silicon Valley: Intelligence Roots Of eBay Cyberstalking Scandal
eBay Governance Crisis: Cyberstalking Case Ethics, Compliance & Disclosure Failures Call For Shareholder Scrutiny
eBay Gears Up for Crisis? New Job Posting Signals Potential Trouble Ahead
eBay Wins Dismissal Of EPA Suit; Court Affirms Section 230 Protections For Items Sold On The Site
Amazon Sellers Hit Walmart With Class Action Lawsuit Alleging Complicity In Online Organized Retail Crime
eBay Demands Identities Of EcommerceBytes Sources In $100M+ Cyberstalking Suit
eBay's Tech Image Overhaul: Is Media Manipulation Covering Up Executive Leadership Failures?
eBay Quietly Grows China Sales As CEO Downplays Temu Competition
Mercari US Undertakes Mass Layoff Months After Major Fee Structure Shakeup
FTC Urged To Investigate eBay TCGPlayer Deceptive & Anti-Competitive Conduct In ROCC Petition
eBay Sets Up Shop Using TCGPlayer To Hide Conflict Of Interest While Competing With Sellers On The Platform
Etsy Quietly Adds China To Etsy Payment Eligibility List Via Payoneer Partnership Value Added Resource Navigation Contact Newsletter Subscribe © 2026 Value Added Resource - |
eBay has implemented a significant update to its User Agreement, taking effect February 20, 2026, with core changes focused on restricting the use of AI “buy for me” agents and refining its arbitration and dispute resolution policies. The primary addition involves a complete prohibition of utilizing AI agents, including Large Language Model (LLM) bots, to access eBay’s services without prior explicit permission. This move directly addresses concerns raised by the increasing prevalence of automated shopping tools. Previously, eBay’s User Agreement included a clause prohibiting the use of “robots, spiders, scraper, data mining tools, data gathering and extraction tools, or other automated means” to access the platform, but without specific mention of AI agents or LLMs. The revised language now explicitly includes “buy-for-me agents, LLM-driven bots, or any end-to-end flow that attempts to place orders without human review.” This clarification solidifies eBay’s stance against automated shopping practices. Beyond the AI restriction, the User Agreement updates incorporate changes to its arbitration and dispute resolution framework. Notably, eBay has broadened its arbitration clause to explicitly exclude class action lawsuits. The previous version prohibited class actions, but the updated agreement now prohibits any claims brought as a plaintiff or class member, as well as preventing actions seeking recovery of losses incurred by a third party. This reflects a strategy to limit the potential for large-scale legal challenges against the company. Furthermore, the User Agreement has detailed changes to the process for opting out of the arbitration agreement. Prior to May 16, 2025, users could only opt-out by sending an email to DisputeNotice@eBay.com or mailing a written notice to the Draper, Utah office. Now, only new users can request to opt out, and this must be done by mailing a written opt-out notice. Existing users who failed to opt out before the date of the update will not be able to exercise this right. Finally, the address to send arbitration opt-out requests and other legal correspondence has been updated from 583 W. eBay Way, Draper, UT 84020 to 339 W. 13490 S., Ste. 500, Draper, UT 84020. These modifications underscore eBay's commitment to clearly delineating permissible usage and reinforcing its control over automated interactions within its marketplace. |