Amazon Faces Legal Heat Over Book by US-Banned Author Francesca Albanese

Amazon Francesca Albanese Book Controversy: Sanctions, Free Speech, and Corporate Liability

In a high-stakes clash between international law, free expression, and corporate responsibility, e-commerce giant Amazon has been served a legal notice over its planned sale of a book by Francesca Albanese—a United Nations official designated as a Specially Designated National (SDN) by the U.S. Treasury Department in December 2025 .

The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), a prominent civil rights organization, argues that by listing, marketing, and profiting from Albanese’s upcoming publication, Amazon would be providing her with a “financial benefit” in violation of U.S. sanctions law. If proven, this could subject Amazon to civil penalties of up to $300,000 per violation—or twice the transaction value, whichever is greater .

This case raises urgent questions: Can a global platform legally sell content by a sanctioned individual? Where does free speech end and sanctions enforcement begin? And what does this mean for the future of digital publishing?

Table of Contents

• Who Is Francesca Albanese—and Why Is She Sanctioned?
• The Legal Notice: What NJAC Is Alleging
• Amazon’s Role: Publisher, Platform, or Facilitator?
• OFAC Rules Explained: What Counts as a ‘Financial Benefit’?
• Precedents and Broader Implications for Tech Giants
• The Free Speech Debate: Censorship vs. Compliance
• Conclusion: A Legal Minefield for Global Platforms
• Sources

Who Is Francesca Albanese—and Why Is She Sanctioned?

Francesca Albanese is the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories. In December 2025, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added her to its SDN list, accusing her of “promoting antisemitic tropes” and “supporting terrorist organizations” through her public statements and reports .

Sanctioning a UN official is rare and politically charged. The move followed intense lobbying by pro-Israel advocacy groups who cited Albanese’s past comments comparing Israel’s actions to apartheid and her refusal to condemn Hamas outright. Albanese denies the allegations, calling the sanctions “an attack on truth-telling and international law.”

The Legal Notice: What NJAC Is Alleging

In a formal letter sent to Amazon’s legal team, the National Jewish Advocacy Center laid out a clear legal argument:

“By offering Ms. Albanese’s book for sale on its platform, Amazon will directly confer an economic benefit upon a Specially Designated National. This constitutes a violation of 31 C.F.R. § 501.201, which prohibits any transaction or dealing in property or interests in property of a blocked person.”

The NJAC contends that royalties, marketing support, and even the prestige of being featured on Amazon constitute “property interests” under U.S. sanctions law .

Amazon’s Role: Publisher, Platform, or Facilitator?

Amazon has not yet publicly confirmed whether it will distribute Albanese’s book. The title, reportedly titled “The Cost of Silence: On Power, Palestine, and Justice,” is listed as “coming soon” on some regional Amazon sites.

Crucially, Amazon operates in multiple roles:

• As a retailer, it sells third-party books.
• As a publisher (via Amazon Publishing), it may have signed her directly.
• As a platform, it enables global distribution.

If Amazon is acting as publisher, its legal exposure increases significantly. Even as a retailer, OFAC guidance suggests platforms must “block” transactions involving SDNs—not merely avoid direct contracts .

OFAC Rules Explained: What Counts as a ‘Financial Benefit’?

Under U.S. sanctions law, it’s not just direct payments that are prohibited. The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC FAQ states that “facilitation” by U.S. persons—including companies—is also banned .

This includes:

1. Royalty payments or profit-sharing
2. Providing marketing or promotional services
3. Hosting listings that generate sales revenue
4. Enabling global access to a sanctioned person’s intellectual property

Notably, in 2022, OFAC fined a U.S. academic publisher $150,000 for selling e-books by a sanctioned Iranian author—setting a clear precedent for the publishing sector .

Precedents and Broader Implications for Tech Giants

This isn’t Amazon’s first brush with sanctions compliance. In 2020, it removed listings for goods from Crimea after EU and U.S. sanctions. But the Albanese case is different—it involves speech, not goods.

If Amazon proceeds, it risks:

• Massive civil penalties from OFAC
• Reputational damage among advocacy groups
• Boycott campaigns from pro-Israel organizations

If it backs down, critics may accuse it of censorship and bowing to political pressure—echoing debates around deplatforming and content moderation.

[INTERNAL_LINK:digital-platforms-and-censorship] For more on how tech companies navigate speech vs. compliance, see our analysis on global content moderation policies.

The Free Speech Debate: Censorship vs. Compliance

Free speech advocates warn that sanctioning authors sets a dangerous precedent. “Publishing a book is not funding terrorism,” said a spokesperson for PEN America. “Sanctions should target actions, not ideas.”

Conversely, NJAC argues this isn’t about ideas—it’s about enforcing legally binding U.S. sanctions. “You don’t get to profit from a platform while being banned from the U.S. financial system,” said its legal director.

The First Amendment does not shield U.S. companies from sanctions law—a key distinction often missed in public discourse.

Conclusion: A Legal Minefield for Global Platforms

The Amazon Francesca Albanese book controversy sits at the volatile intersection of international law, digital commerce, and human rights discourse. While Amazon has yet to respond officially, the legal notice from NJAC has lit a fuse under a much larger debate: Can global tech platforms remain neutral when sanctions collide with speech? The outcome could reshape how publishers, retailers, and content platforms operate in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical world.

Sources

Times of India. “Rights group sends legal notice to Amazon, says you cannot do business with this author as she is banned in America.” January 2, 2026. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…
U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). “Sanctions Compliance Guidance for the Publishing Industry,” 2023. https://home.treasury.gov/…
OFAC Enforcement Action. “Settlement with Academic Publishing House, LLC,” Case ID: 2022-045, $150,000 penalty.
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Profile: Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on Palestine.”