Amazon Blocks Meta's AI Agent Muse Over Customer Credential Concerns

Amazon has reportedly blocked Muse, Meta’s new autonomous personal assistant, from browsing or purchasing products on Amazon.com on behalf of users. This restriction follows the retail giant's unsuccessful attempts to convince Facebook's parent company to voluntarily exclude Amazon from the AI tool's automated shopping routines. Last year, Amazon sent a cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity, demanding it stop its bots and stating it did not wish to be part of the Comet browser.

A famous publication reported that Amazon stated it never consented to this integration. It added that Meta launched the feature without prior notice, designed the agent to browse without identifying itself as automated software, and appears to collect and retain customer credentials—a combination that Amazon warns poses serious privacy and security risks.

By Sunday night (September 20), consumers attempting to use Muse to make purchases on Amazon encountered an explicit block message: "Continued access by an unauthorised AI agent violates Amazon's Conditions of Use, which our customers have agreed to."

According to the report, an Amazon spokesperson emphasised that third-party platforms must respect basic commercial boundaries:

"We believe it is clear that third-party applications offering to make purchases on behalf of customers at other businesses must operate transparently and respect the service provider's decisions regarding whether or not to participate."

Meta's stance on credential security

Meta has previously rejected allegations that its agent mishandles sensitive user information. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram noted that Muse operates without direct access to users' passwords or banking data. It also stated that any login information entered by the consumer is stored in a protected environment, allowing the model to use the credentials without reading them directly-even when the user types them straight into a browser session.

This conflict creates an awkward rift between two long-standing business allies. Since 2023, Amazon has allowed consumers to purchase products directly through Facebook and Instagram feeds. In April, Meta signed a multi-million-dollar contract to run its autonomous AI agents using Amazon’s custom Graviton server chips. The report noted that this friction highlights a broader battle over which tech company will retain the relationship with the buyer as automated agents begin to conduct digital commerce transactions on behalf of individuals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kahekashan

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Kahekashan is a passionate technophile with a keen eye for cutting-edge gadgets, emerging technologies, and everything in the digital realm. Raised in a Defence family with strong values and a background in literature, she has consistently pursued excellence in every endeavour. Her last full-time assignment involved content writing with the Indian School of Business.

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