Amazon blocks Meta's Muse AI agent from its store

Amazon has blocked Meta's Muse AI agent from shopping on its platform on behalf of users. According to GeekWire, Muse owners started seeing a popup on Sunday warning that continued access by an "unauthorized AI agent" violates Amazon's Conditions of Use, which its customers have agreed to.

Meta never notified Amazon that Muse would access its store, the report says. The retailer also raised privacy and security concerns: the agent failed to identify itself while browsing and seemingly captured customer credentials.

"We think it's fairly straightforward that third-party applications that offer to make purchases on behalf of customers from other businesses should operate openly and respect service provider decisions about whether or not to participate," an unnamed Amazon spokesperson said. Meta was also asked for comment.

What Meta promised

When it launched Muse earlier this month, Meta said the agent cannot see secure login details or card payment information. In testing, The Verge used it to buy tank tops from Amazon while leaving other items in the basket. But privacy questions have surfaced since launch: Muse reportedly can read the contents of user messages even though the relevant permission isn't enabled.

Part of a wider defense

The block is Amazon's latest move to fend off rival agentic AI services and keep shoppers on its own site. Last November it sued Perplexity in a similar bid to keep its store out of the Comet shopping experience — but in August a judge sided with Perplexity. Since July, Amazon's confirmation emails have also grown noticeably sparse, dropping item names and product images to stop external AI services from mining that data.

Source: The Verge