The remote delete feature is used to allow customers to "return" books and get a refund.
Is anybody really fooled by that? There is a difference between a user-initiated local program that deletes a file; and an Amazon-initiated remote delete command without any user interaction or knowledge.
The "feature" gives Amazon more power than they need to process a return. If they have it they will abuse it, and they did. In fact, they do not need the quiet remote delete capability to allow book returns. I'm not sure how it currently works, but there are 2 simple ways to do returns that I thought of in all of 30 seconds:
Using Kindle:
- user requests return and refund from Kindle device using software running on the device
- Kindle local program sends message to Amazon server to initiate return
- Amazon server confirms the availability and OKs transaction to Kindle
- Kindle local program confirms with the user, then deletes file and sends message back to Amazon server that file has been deleted
- Amazon server refunds money to customer
Using website:
- user requests refund via Amazon website
- Amazon server sends message to Kindle device to start return program/function
- Kindle alerts the user of a new message, which when engaged starts the local refund program
- if user verifies, program deletes file and sends message back to Amazon server
- Amazon server refunds money to customer
If at any time user does not complete the process, transaction is timed out in X hours/days, and the money is not refunded. If user refuses to confirm refund on the device, return transaction is canceled and money is not refunded.
Want to be have it more automatic? OK, allow users to specify whether remote deletes need confirmation on the Kindle device or not; always default to need confirmation. But this shouldn't even be needed - there's nothing wrong with requiring access to the device to do a return/refund. The only reason they would need the remote delete functionality without user interaction/consent is to abuse it. And, obviously, it's now a fact that they've abused it.