Amazon: The pathetic business practices of the largest "self-publishing" book company in the world

In the digital age, publishing a book no longer requires a literary agent, a publishing house, or even a fact-checker. With a few clicks, anyone can upload a manuscript to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform and distribute it globally--no editorial oversight required.

While this democratization of publishing has empowered countless voices, it has also opened the floodgates to a troubling trend: self-published “true story” books that make false, defamatory accusations against real people.

Unlike traditional publishing, where manuscripts undergo rigorous editorial review and legal vetting, Amazon’s KDP allows authors to bypass these safeguards entirely. The result? A growing number of memoirs, exposés, and revenge narratives masquerading as non-fiction--many of which name individuals and accuse them of crimes or misconduct without evidence.

Legal experts warn that this loophole enables character assassination under the guise of storytelling. “It’s the Wild West of publishing,” says media attorney Rachel Linwood. “If someone wants to destroy your reputation, they don’t need a blog post--they can publish a book and call it a memoir.”

Some of these books are what critics call “pure cannonball”--sensationalist, emotionally charged, and factually dubious. They often target ex-partners, former employers, neighbors, or public figures, weaving personal grievances into narratives labeled as “true.” In many cases, the accused are unaware until the book is already live and selling.

Amazon’s content guidelines prohibit hate speech and harassment, but they do not require factual verification for non-fiction titles. Unless a book is reported and legally challenged, it remains available--sometimes climbing bestseller lists.

Victims of false accusations face an uphill battle. Reporting a book to Amazon requires navigating opaque systems, and even then, takedowns are rare unless there’s a court ruling. Defamation lawsuits are costly and time-consuming, leaving many without recourse.

Consumer advocates argue that Amazon’s hands-off approach prioritizes profit over accountability.

 “They’ve built a system that rewards controversy and punishes truth,” says publishing watchdog Marcus Ellison. “The more outrageous the claim, the more clicks it gets.”

In a disturbing twist, some authors sidestep legal risk by labeling their books as fiction--even when the content clearly references real people, events, and accusations. These works often include disclaimers like “any resemblance to actual persons is purely coincidental,” while simultaneously describing incidents that match public records or private disputes.

But does calling a book “fiction” protect the author from libel or slander claims?

Not necessarily. According to legal experts, if a fictional character is clearly identifiable as a real person and the portrayal is defamatory, the author may still be liable for libel—even with a disclaimer.

Courts look at whether the average reader could reasonably recognize the individual and whether the statements made are false and damaging.

“It’s a coward’s loophole,” says defamation expert Carla Nguyen. “They write a hit piece, slap a fiction label on it, and dare the victim to prove otherwise. But if the connection is obvious and the claims are harmful, fiction won’t save them in court.”

As misinformation and personal vendettas seep into the self-publishing ecosystem, calls for reform are growing louder. Proposed solutions include:

• Mandatory fact-checking for non-fiction titles

• Editorial review for books making legal or criminal claims

• Clearer reporting mechanisms for defamation

• Transparency around takedown decisions

• Stricter labeling standards for fiction vs. non-fiction

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Until then, readers are left to sort truth from fiction--and reputations hang in the balance.