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• The company said that it was complying with local laws
E-commerce giant Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) has blocked search results for LGBTQ-related products on its United Arab Emirates (UAE) website.
The online retailer has blocked searches for more than 150 keywords such as “lgbtq” and “pride”, while searches for specific books about gay and transgender issues have also been restricted. The company said that it was complying with local laws.
The news was first reported by the New York Times, which viewed the specific documents. The news follows Pride month, which is celebrated by the LGBTQIA+ community around the world but not particularly welcomed in the religiously conservative Gulf. Homosexuality is criminalized in the UAE and can be punished by fines and prison time.
Amazon has spent heavily to build a business in the UAE, acquiring the country’s biggest online retailer Souq.com in 2017 for $580m (£478m).
The company stated its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and reiterated its belief that the rights of LGBTQ+ people must be protected. "With Amazon stores around the world, we must also comply with the local laws and regulations of the countries in which we operate," it added.
Source - New York Times
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