Amazon Wishlist Policy Change Exposes Recipient Addresses to Gifters via Third-Party Sellers

Amazon has changed its wishlist policy, allowing gifters to select items from third-party sellers. This change could expose recipients' delivery addresses to the gifters. Amazon sent a notice to wishlist holders that serves as a classic example of "cover your ass" (CYA) messaging, stating that Amazon cannot guarantee what a third-party seller will do with a recipient's address once they have it, including potentially providing it to the gifter for tracking purposes. The change was first flagged by sex workers on social media, as many in the adult industry use wishlists as an alternative method to accept gifts, tributes, and tips. This is particularly important because mainstream payment processors are often hostile and discriminatory toward the adult industry, making alternative payment avenues crucial for those who are debanked or banned from standard platforms. While many use wishlists in a supplementary fashion, the policy shift introduces a significant privacy risk by potentially linking a recipient's physical address directly to a gifter through the third-party seller channel.