2 min article

Threats and offensive language policy

Threats, offensive language and hate speech are not allowed on eBay.

To ensure eBay users have a positive experience on eBay, we don't allow members to use threats, or language that we consider to be abusive, hateful, or offensive.

What is the policy?

  • It is strictly prohibited to engage in threats of bodily or physical harm or any kind of harassment using any method including by email, member-to-member messaging, on our public message boards (such as our discussion boards, groups, and other community areas) or within Feedback comments

    • If a member receives a threat, it should be reported to local law enforcement

  • Language that is hateful, obscene, offensive, profane, racist, sexual, defamatory, violent, or discriminating, including on the grounds of race, ethnicity, color, religion, disability, national origin, sex, gender and gender identity, or sexual orientation cannot be used in profiles, usernames, chat rooms, discussion boards, member communication, eBay Claims, eBay Stores, Feedback, listings, product pages, collections, and any other areas of the site

  • Listings for products that contain profanity in the official title are allowed, as long as they follow the guidelines below:

    • They must follow our Offensive materials policy

    • They must follow our Adult items policy

    • CDs, DVDs or other media with titles that include language which may be considered to be profane are allowed on eBay as long as any profane words are part of the official title

    • Adult items that include language which may be considered to be profane as part of their official title or description may be allowed as long as they follow our Adult items policy

    • Novelty items (shirts, stickers, etc.) containing profanity may be listed if the profane word is blurred out completely in any images, and the majority of the word has been replaced with asterisks in the item listing

Activity on eBay is required to:

  • Follow all applicable laws
  • Respect the rights of third parties
  • Follow the eBay User Agreement
  • Follow this eBay policy

If activity doesn’t meet these requirements, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: administratively ending listings or cancelling transactions, hiding or lowering the placement of listings in search results, lowering seller rating, restricting buying or selling, forfeiture of fees, loss of buyer or seller protections, restricting access to member communication and rating tools, removing feedback, and account suspension.

Why does eBay have this policy?

This policy protects members, and ensures eBay remains free of threats and language that may cause offence.

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