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Amazon glitch cuts both ways

Whether homespun or shrink-wrapped , today's content management systems, are nothing if not efficient. Take Amazon.com, for example.
February 17, 2004

Whether homespun or shrink-wrapped , today's content management systems, are nothing if not efficient. Take Amazon.com, for example. According to a NY Times article (yes, you must register), the Canadian edition of Amazon.com experienced a minor hiccup last week, revealing the true identity all book reviewers.

I'm sure the hapless soul who flipped the switch in the code has been punished for enacting such a large breach of the company's privacy policy (reviewers can request anonymity). The real problem here, according to The Times is that many of the reviewers, especially those handing out 5 star ratings, turned out to be the authors of the books under review.

Still, I worry more about the reviewers who panned their helpless victims. Is there such a thing as a "Reviewer Protection Program"?

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