INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightGetty ImagesAmazon has banned more than one million products which claim to protect against the coronavirus - or even cure
it.The online retailer told Reuters it had also removed "tens of thousands" of overpriced health products from unscrupulous sellers.The
World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed concern about some misleading Amazon listings earlier this month, including fake treatments.The
virus, which causes Covid-19, has killed about 2,800 people worldwide.The WHO said fake coronavirus claims online were causing mass
confusion, and urged tech giants to combat the spread of misinformation.A search for "coronavirus" on Amazon brought up results for face
masks, disinfectant wipes and newly-published books on viral infections, revealing how some sellers are cashing in on the health crisis.It
also offered results for vitamin C boosters - a fake cure for the virus that has been widely disseminated online.Amazon has not provided a
list of those products it says it has removed, but a TheIndianSubcontinent search for "coronavirus" on the online site suggests many
products are still being sold at unusually high prices
not even fit for purpose, such as disposable dust or surgical masks, rather than recommended protective equipment.Image copyrightAmazonImage
caption
New listings on Amazon explicitly market basic masks as "anti virus" or "for coronavirus"
A
hiking up prices of goods to unreasonably high levels because of an increase in demand
She cited company policy which allow Amazon to take down products that "hurt customer trust", including when pricing "is significantly
higher than recent prices offered on or off Amazon".The company will continue to monitor the site for price spikes, she added.
