Overview

Amazon has issued a reminder to sellers about using only verified and approved third-party applications when managing their businesses on the platform. The announcement highlights Amazon's vetting process for apps listed in its Appstore and warns sellers to avoid unapproved tools that could compromise account security and data protection.

Key Points

• Use only Appstore-approved apps — Amazon directs sellers to source third-party tools exclusively from the Amazon Appstore, where apps have undergone formal vetting
• Compliance and transparency checks — Amazon verifies that all listed apps comply with its Acceptable Use Policy and Developer Agreement, including transparency around data access
• Data security requirements — Approved developers must follow Amazon's Data Protection Policy governing how seller data is stored, accessed, and managed
• Ongoing monitoring and audits — Amazon conducts regular audits of third-party apps for accurate pricing, functionality claims, and consistency between Appstore listings and developer websites
• Removal of non-compliant apps — Apps that fail Amazon's audit process are removed from the Appstore

Amazon's Vetting Process

• Acceptable Use Policy review — Apps reviewed for compliance with ground rules for how they interact with Amazon's systems and seller data
• Developer Agreement enforcement — Developers must follow transparency provisions so sellers understand exactly what data apps access and how it's used
• Data Protection Policy compliance — Apps must meet encryption standards, data retention limits, and restrictions on sharing data with third parties
• Regular audits after approval — Compliance is ongoing requirement, not one-time gate; Amazon catches apps that drift out of compliance post-approval
• Accuracy verification — Amazon checks whether Appstore listing claims and developer website claims are consistent and truthful