Amazon has blocked Meta’s Muse AI agent from shopping on its platform for users. The move affects Muse’s ability to make purchases on Amazon. A popup appeared for Muse users on Sunday. It said continued access by an unauthorized AI agent violated Amazon’s Conditions of Use. Amazon said it had concerns about how Muse accessed its website. The company also raised privacy and security concerns. According to Amazon, Muse did not identify itself while browsing the platform. Amazon also said the agent appeared to capture customer credentials.
Amazon raises concerns over Muse access
Amazon said Meta did not notify the company before Muse accessed its store. The retailer also said it asked Meta to remove Amazon from the Muse shopping experience. Amazon argued that third-party shopping applications should operate openly. It also said such services should respect retailers’ decisions about participation.
The dispute centers on how AI agents interact with online stores. These tools can browse websites and complete tasks for users. They can also make purchases without requiring users to handle every step themselves. Muse was designed to perform several tasks for users. Shopping is among the functions supported by Meta’s AI assistant.
Meta previously addressed security concerns
Meta said Muse cannot access secure login details or card payment information. The company made that statement when it launched Muse earlier this month. The Verge also tested Muse before Amazon blocked its access. During testing, Muse successfully purchased tank tops from Amazon. The test involved other products already placed in the shopping basket. However, separate privacy concerns have also emerged around Muse. Reports said Muse could view some user message content without the required permission enabled. These reports have added attention to how the AI assistant handles personal information.
Amazon’s wider fight with AI shopping tools
The Amazon-Meta dispute is not the retailer’s first conflict with an AI shopping service. Amazon sued Perplexity last year over its Comet shopping experience. The company sought to prevent the AI service from accessing Amazon content. A judge later sided with Perplexity in August.
Amazon has also changed some of its confirmation emails. Since July, the emails have contained fewer product details. Specific item names and product images have reportedly been removed. The changes can reduce information available for external AI systems to collect. These developments show the growing tension between online retailers and AI agents. AI companies are building tools that can act for users across websites. Retailers must decide how these agents can access their platforms.
On Amazon’s platform. Muse users cannot use the assistant to complete Amazon purchases as before. The situation also raises broader questions about permissions, customer data, and AI-powered shopping.
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