A federal judge in Brooklyn on Monday dismissed a U.S. government lawsuit accusing eBay of violating the Clean Air Act and other environmental laws by permitting the sale of harmful products on its platform.
The case, brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, alleged that eBay allowed the sale of devices that bypass automobile pollution controls and other environmentally hazardous items.
The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Orelia Merchant, came after the Department of Justice claimed eBay illegally facilitated the sale of over 343,000 aftermarket “defeat” devices, which allow vehicles to evade emissions controls while enhancing performance and fuel efficiency.
Additionally, the lawsuit accused eBay of permitting the sale of 23,000 unregistered or restricted-use pesticides, as well as 5,614 paint and coating removal products containing methylene chloride—a chemical linked to brain and liver cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The dismissal marks a setback for the U.S. government’s efforts to hold e-commerce platforms accountable for the sale of potentially harmful products.
