eBay is using AI to field reports of violations, and it's failing miserably

[polkatommy]

I'm very concerned about eBay's ineffectual use of AI because sometimes it absolutely requires a human to decipher whether or not a reported item for sale is prohibited.

For example, red and blue LED emergency vehicle lights are prohibited on eBay, but now and then they still slip under the radar because savvy sellers have learned lots of tricks to cheat the system. For example, they won't outright say the lights they're selling are red and blue, but they might post a photo with red and blue crayons next to the lights, or they'll take a photo of the product sticker on the light housing, and the sticker will reveal the color of the lights in the model number (eg. "J917-46 R/B".)

Artificial intelligence isn't smart enough decipher these tricks! It takes a human to understand what's being sold, what's the product photos are revealing, and how sellers are cheating the system. I've had success getting red and blue emergency lights pulled off the platform in years past, but since eBay started using AI, lots of reports are bouncing back with, "These listings have not been removed. This determination was made using automation or artificial intelligence. ... Please don't reply to this message."

There are now several active listings on eBay for professional-grade red and blue emergency vehicle lights because the stupid AI has no freaking clue what it's looking at.  And the form responses I've received were clearly final decisions as they've provided no option for me to appeal.

It is therefore accurate, and unfortunate, to announce that eBay's relegation of member reports to AI fosters the aiding of the dangerous crime of police impersonation. I'm not angry with the AI because it doesn't know any better. I'm angry with eBay because they do know better. What a shame.

[tmorris2]

This is a listing that was flagged - that they were able to re-instate.  Let me know if you see why it may have been flagged.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/316403143580

[polkatommy]

---

@atxps45 wrote:

You need to get a life. Nobody elected you the town marshal to police listings. You’re just messing with people who legitimately acquired these items through municipal auctions etc and resell in demand product. There is a huge market for off duty POVs, volunteer FD, emergency management/rescue people etc who cannot afford new equipment and rely on reasonably priced second hand equipment. I’m willing to bet you and your “boss” are the competitor of these eBay sellers at a vehicle upfitter shop. Probably selling cheap generic Feniex lights. eBay will just keep relisting the items with approved appeal. Go ahead and report them 3 times a day. Your account & IP gets flagged for excessive abuse of the reporting system every time. Just get off the computer and go outside and touch grass. 

---

I respect your opinion, but your ad hominem comments are not congruent with the topic of eBay using AI. I have a very productive life, and I am not in emergency vehicle equipment sales.

There is a market for used emergency lights. I am aware of that. Even though red lights are also prohibited, I did not report them for the reason you mentioned. I only reported red & blue combo lights or all-blue LED lights.

Long ago, eBay chose to add police emergency lights/uniforms to their list of prohibited items along with other things like guns, animals, drugs, and alcohol. eBay put the onus on their members to report violations of listing policies. We all became eBay's elected "town marshalls." I believe that as conscientious members of the eBay community, we make the world a little better and safer by reporting violations.

If I can help stop a police impersonator from acquiring and installing a Whelen interior red & blue light bar, believe me, I will. And if you think I should "get a life" and not bother helping thwart police impersonation, just look at what happened in Minnesota last month.

It's been my belief all along that eBay took police impersonation seriously. For years and years, every few months I'd report a handful of violations, and eBay would take down 95% of the auctions I reported. Now that AI is in control, my reports are ineffective. eBay has become a police impersonator's candy store. That's what the topic of my thread is about.

[deltilogical]

The nuclear powered "AI" IS the problem - and we need some adults in the room to stop this, but it won't happen, they have all sworn fealty to the rentiers...this is going to end so very badly. 

[eastlaneave]

@tmorris2 

Was this flagged because Petunia seeds are (can be) a hallucinogen?

Or did you add some spaces here to make it not appear to have contact information?

[hopebuddy]

Concur with this assessment .  I reported a seller misrepresenting an item as new when it was clearly used and submitte  photo evicences of tool marks, greasy fingerptints on item with ripped original packaging.   Ebay responded incorrectly with "we made a determination using AI that seller did not violate ebay policy"  Ebay if you are reading this it is  reference ID:
2-198034700690 .  Item: 272810950571.    Lets see if Ebay readresses this with a human  

[eburtonlab]

@hopebuddy 

I reported a seller misrepresenting an item as new when it was clearly used

If you bought the item based on the description and you think that description is incorrect once you have received the item, eBay will let you return it at the seller's expense for a refund.

If you are just reporting a random listing that you have not actually purchased, you probably should not expect anyone at eBay will be examining photos to determine if something is new or used.

[goodcomputerguy381]

Felt like contributing to this topic. We can get hit by false claims, whether AI or human, and when reporting an entire store selling illegal items, the Report Content tool says "Report submission failed". Are there any human reviewers? Without shame, here is an entire store selling FCC illegal surveillance equipment (Hikvision and Dahua) :  5a-home-cctv . Some even have the illegal brands in the title or description. It would be nice to have the blatant favoritism explained, and it's worth mentioning there's no "report item" or "report store".

[goodcomputerguy381]

Update: Okay good ebay got around to removing illegal listings... +1 step in the right direction.