Editor’s Note: Amazon reached out after publication to express that the original decision was an error and the book will be reinstated.
Former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson says Amazon Kindle declined Thursday to permit him to offer his latest book on the topic of coronavirus lockdowns for download on the platform.
Amazon reinstated the book later on, expressing that it was originally removed in error.
Berenson, a reporter known of late for his contrarian take on coronavirus lockdowns, posted a screenshot to Twitter of Amazon’s message to him about his upcoming book, “Unreported Truths About COVID-19 And Lockdowns: Part 1: Introduction And Death Counts And Estimates.” Berenson sent the Caller the email from Amazon notifying him that his book is not acceptable on the publishing platform due to the company’s guidelines.
“This book does not comply with our guidelines. As a result we are not offering your book for sale,” Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) said in an email response to Berenson. “Due to the rapidly changing nature of information around the COVID-19 virus, we are referring customers to official sources for health information about the virus. Please consider removing references to COVID-19 for this book.”
“THEY CENSORED IT!” Berenson wrote on Twitter. “It is based entirely on published government data and scientific papers. It doesn’t say coronavirus isn’t real or doesn’t kill people (in fact, the worst-case death toll is likely to be striking to people). And Amazon won’t run it.”
Today @amazon refused to publish my booklet about the coronavirus because it “did not comply” with their (undisclosed) guidelines. This is outrageous censorship from a company that has gained hugely from lockdowns – and dominates the US book market, especially with stores closed! pic.twitter.com/eQYI9CMhUX
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) June 4, 2020
THEY CENSORED IT! It is based entirely on published government data and scientific papers. It doesn’t say coronavirus isn’t real or doesn’t kill people (in fact, the worst-case death toll is likely to be striking to people). And Amazon won’t run it.
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) June 4, 2020
The former New York Times writer is the author of several other books listed on the platform, including “Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence,” an anti-marijuana legalization book that purportedly “reveals the link between teenage marijuana use and mental illness.
In a tweet responding to a critic, Berenson said that his book “is focused on death counts and estimates” that will likely “surprise people.”
Normally I don’t respond to fake accounts with four followers), but this seems like a good time to tell people that Part 1 is focused on death counts and estimates. And I suspect my worst-case death estimates may surprise people. https://t.co/DOA56Gyf8i
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) June 4, 2020
When asked by a Twitter follower if he could appeal the decision, Berenson expressed hope that it was “basically an automated decision” and that someone might “step in” eventually due to public outcry.
My hope is that this was basically an automated decision – it came overnight – and that if the screaming gets loud enough someone will step in. Ironically, “Lost in Kandahar” was among the first Kindle Singles they ever published. https://t.co/sdpIiJjPGi
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) June 4, 2020
Although the book has since been reinstated, and Amazon said it was done in error, it is not clear if it was an “automated decision” or not.
The former NYT writer posted some examples of books that are available on Amazon:
Books you can buy on Amazon right now: pic.twitter.com/cNUR3y704T
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) June 4, 2020
More books you can buy on @Amazon right now (note The Anarchist Cookbook is selling quite well at the moment). pic.twitter.com/R2eRoAzwWH
— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) June 4, 2020
YouTube removed a video in April by Drs. Dan Erickson and Artin Massihi criticizing California’s lockdown measures. It had reached 5 million views. (RELATED: Tucker Carlson: Media Is Colluding With Power By Banning ‘Harmful Misinformation’)
The platform also took down a video of former Rockefeller University epidemiologist Dr. Knut Wittkowski explaining why he believes that achieving “herd immunity” is the most effective way to deal with coronavirus.