eBay outlaws free speech on discussion boards

eBay has laid down a new set of laws to radically reform the use of its discussion boards.

Surfers will now be prevented from using community discussion boards to post warnings about companies who have ripped people off or, conversely, recommendations of companies. Similarly users will not be able to conduct their own private conversations via the bulletin boards or discuss postings which have already been deleted.

eBay claims the crackdown is part of a policy to simplify the use of its message boards.

A statement on the website says: "We have revised the board usage policy to clarify expectations, to make the basic rules of conduct easier to understand and to remove or to replace obsolete language."

However, eBay still claims it is not responsible for messages left by eBay members and that users remain responsible for their own posts.

eBay has also tightened its regulations for people bidding for real estate on its US site.

Previously, eBay took bids on properties as an indication of interest in the property, not as a firm financial commitment to buy. Now any bids will be legally binding in accordance with the laws of whichever state the user bids from.