Amazon is trying to crush class-action suits before they get started

亚马逊正试图在集体诉讼开始前将其扼杀

On Friday, Amazon customers received an email alerting them to an update to the site’s terms and conditions. Most notably, it stated that disputes would now be resolved through arbitration and said users agree to a class action waiver. 周五，亚马逊向客户发送了一封电子邮件，提醒他们网站的服务条款已更新。最值得注意的是，条款规定争议现在必须通过仲裁解决，且用户需同意放弃集体诉讼的权利。

Amazon framed this as a “fast and efficient” way to resolve issues, but it notably would prevent customers from seeking the involvement of a judge or jury in most circumstances. Customers can still take Amazon to small claims court in certain circumstances, though payouts are often limited to a few thousand dollars. 亚马逊将此描述为解决问题的“快速且高效”的方式，但显而易见，这将阻止客户在大多数情况下寻求法官或陪审团的介入。在特定情况下，客户仍可将亚马逊告上小额索赔法庭，尽管赔偿金额通常仅限于几千美元。

The relevant sections of Amazon’s legal policies page now read: 亚马逊法律政策页面的相关章节现已更新为：

YOU AND WE AGREE THAT ANY DISPUTE OR CLAIM RELATING IN ANY WAY TO YOUR USE OF ANY AMAZON SERVICE, OR TO ANY PRODUCTS OR SERVICES SOLD OR DISTRIBUTED BY AMAZON OR THROUGH AMAZON.COM, WILL BE RESOLVED BY BINDING ARBITRATION RATHER THAN IN COURT … 您与我们同意，任何与您使用任何亚马逊服务，或与亚马逊或通过 Amazon.com 销售或分销的任何产品或服务有关的争议或索赔，都将通过具有约束力的仲裁而非法院诉讼来解决……

Class Action Waiver. YOU AND WE AGREE THAT ANY ARBITRATION PROCEEDING WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. You and we may only seek or obtain individualized relief in arbitration, and claims or requests for public injunctive relief or relief where you or we act in a representative capacity are not allowed. 集体诉讼豁免。您与我们同意，任何仲裁程序将仅以个人为基础进行，而非以集体或代表性诉讼形式进行。您与我们仅可在仲裁中寻求或获得个人救济，且不允许提出公共禁令救济的索赔或请求，也不允许以代表身份行事。

Amazon had removed similar language in 2021 as it faced growing legal challenges from users over privacy concerns relating to Alexa and its Echo speakers. It’s also faced class action suits over the years regarding product returns and its Prime membership. Rather than let those sorts of cases go to court, Amazon’s new terms would seek to resolve larger disputes through mass arbitration rather than mandatory 1-on-1 arbitration hearings. 亚马逊曾在 2021 年删除了类似的条款，当时它正面临用户因 Alexa 和 Echo 智能音箱隐私问题而引发的日益严重的法律挑战。多年来，亚马逊还面临过关于产品退货和 Prime 会员资格的集体诉讼。与其让这类案件进入法庭，亚马逊的新条款旨在通过大规模仲裁，而非强制性的一对一仲裁听证会来解决更大的争议。

The agreement might not hold up in court, however. Plaintiffs and attorneys could still seek class action suits, and a judge would decide whether to let the case proceed. 然而，该协议在法庭上未必有效。原告和律师仍可寻求提起集体诉讼，并由法官决定是否允许案件继续进行。