Yahoo moves to ban Nazi memorabilia
Yahoo has pledged to stop carrying online auctions of Nazi artefacts and other hate-related materials after some users complained that such items promote hate and violence.
The new restrictions, which will come into force later this month, look set to address a November court ruling from France requiring Yahoo to block such items from French users.
The French court had ruled that Yahoo must prevent French users from auctions of such items, or face daily fines.
The senior auction producer at Yahoo, Brian Fitzgerald, said the court order played no role in the new policy, other than to raise awareness internally and speed the decision.
"We decided we don't necessarily want to profit from items that promote hatred or glorify hatred and violence," Mr Fitzgerald said.
But US consultants Gomez have questioned the timing.
"In a way, it's a pre-emptive strike in making sure this (the French ruling) doesn't become a serious issue," said analyst Mark Gambale. "International law has a unique way of evolving. Yahoo is trying to clean its own house here."
The French ruling came after a legal challenge brought by two French groups citing French law barring the display or sale of racist material. Yahoo responded in December by asking a US court to block the French court's order, saying that France does not have jurisdiction.
Yahoo said that it will also begin using an automated system of screening items before they are listed. Computer software will reject any item that appears to violate the site's policies, although users will be able to appeal rejections.
