In what Queensland Australia state parliament was told was a “world first“, Queensland police are to work with eBay to solve disputes between buyers and sellers. eBay will also provide information to the police including “victims’ details, complete background information on the person under investigation and advice on what may be required for any search warrants.”
Now this was sounding all well and good, but I have a sneaking suspicion it’s actually a bit of a onesided deal. I’m pretty certain (in fact I know!) Trust and Safety work closely with law enforcement around the world so that parts nothing new. The bit I smiled wryly at was that in the past the police have had many complaints about eBay which they’d investigate. However from now on, if police receive a complaint from an eBay customer, they’ll direct them to eBay’s online dispute resolution process
Now that sounds like a great way of passing the buck “Yes sir, I know you think you’ve been ripped off, go open an Unpaid Item Dispute on eBay!” Great result for the police – there’s another notch off the old un-solved crime register!
