eBay Explicitly Bans AI "Buy for Me" Agents in User Agreement Update (www.valueaddedresource.net)

eBay has updated its User Agreement to explicitly ban AI-driven "buy for me" agents and larger language model (LLM) bots from accessing its platform without prior permission, effective February 20, 2026. This change aims to clarify and strengthen eBay's anti-scraping policies, responding to rising concerns over how AI technologies interact with e-commerce sites. The move also addresses competitive pressures following similar approaches from other retailers, such as Amazon's controversial "Buy For Me" feature, which raises issues of transparency and control in online shopping. In addition to banning AI agents, the updated agreement revises arbitration and dispute resolution terms, limiting users' ability to pursue collective legal action against eBay. New clauses explicitly prevent class actions and private attorney general lawsuits, thereby consolidating legal hurdles for users seeking redress. Existing users cannot opt out of this arbitration agreement unless they did so before May 16, 2025, while new users retain this option. These changes signal a strategic shift in eBay’s approach to user interactions amid the growing influence of AI in retail, emphasizing the platform's intention to protect its data integrity and business model.