eBay Explicitly Bans AI “Buy For Me” Agents, Updates Arbitration & Dispute Rules In User Agreement Update

eBay has delivered a significant update to its User Agreement, taking a firm stance against autonomous AI shopping agents while simultaneously tightening its legal terms for dispute resolution. The changes, which take effect on February 20, 2026, for existing users, were communicated via email to members and signal a proactive move to control how artificial intelligence interacts with its marketplace.

The most notable change is the explicit prohibition of AI agents designed to make purchases on behalf of users. The updated terms now state that users will not "use any robot, spider, scraper, data mining tools, data gathering and extraction tools, or other automated means (including, without limitation buy-for-me agents, LLM-driven bots, or any end-to-end flow that attempts to place orders without human review) to access our Services for any purpose, except with the prior express permission of eBay."

This language directly targets the emerging category of agentic AI tools that can autonomously browse, compare, and purchase products. The move follows a quiet update to eBay's robots.txt file in December 2025, which placed new guardrails on how AI agents interact with the site. It also comes in the wake of Amazon's controversial "Buy For Me" test, which uses agentic AI to display and sell items from external merchant websites through the Amazon app, raising concerns among small businesses about data usage and consent.

While Amazon's pilot program does not currently pull inventory from other third-party marketplaces like eBay, the industry-wide shift toward agentic commerce has clearly prompted eBay to establish clear boundaries. By requiring "prior express permission," eBay maintains control over any automated purchasing flows, potentially paving the way for a more controlled, partner-based approach to AI-driven shopping in the future.

Arbitration and Class Action Waiver Expanded

Beyond the AI policy, the update significantly refines eBay's arbitration and dispute resolution terms, building upon major changes made in May 2025. The most impactful revision is the expansion of the class action waiver.

The new language explicitly prevents users from bringing claims "as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class, or representative, or collective basis, or private attorney general action or proceeding, nor otherwise to seek recovery of losses or damages (whether for yourself or others) incurred by a third party."

In plain terms, this means:

• No joining class actions: Users cannot become part of a collective lawsuit against eBay.
• No private attorney general actions: This blocks a specific type of lawsuit where a private individual sues on behalf of the public interest, often used in consumer protection cases.
• No seeking damages for others: A user cannot sue to recover losses suffered by another person or entity.

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It is critical to note that these restrictions apply to private user lawsuits and do not affect the ability of state Attorneys General, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or other regulatory agencies to take legal action on behalf of consumers or sellers. Users concerned about platform policies, such as recent changes to Promoted Listings ad attribution, are still encouraged to report their experiences to these agencies.

The update also addresses a procedural detail: only new users may opt out of the arbitration agreement. Existing users who did not opt out before the May 16, 2025, deadline are now bound to the arbitration terms.

Updated Contact Information

Finally, eBay updated the physical address for legal correspondence, reflecting its move from the former office in Draper, UT. Notices for informal dispute resolution, arbitration demands, and opt-out requests must now be sent to:

339 W. 13490 S., Ste. 500, Draper, UT 84020

Email notices can still be sent to [email protected].

A Calculated Move in a Shifting Landscape

eBay's dual focus—restricting unauthorized AI agents while fortifying its legal position—reflects a platform navigating the complexities of modern e-commerce. The AI ban is a defensive measure against potential scraping, fraud, and loss of control over the user experience. The arbitration updates, while limiting user recourse, provide the company with a more predictable legal framework.

For sellers and buyers, these changes underscore the importance of understanding the evolving terms of service. The explicit ban on AI "buy for me" agents may disrupt some users' automated shopping tools, while the tightened arbitration clause limits avenues for collective legal action. As agentic AI continues to develop, eBay's permission-based approach could become a model for how marketplaces balance innovation with control.

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The full updated User Agreement is available on eBay's website, and users are advised to review the complete terms carefully. The changes go into effect on February 20, 2026.