Encountered a "Client Reputation" problem today on eBay Relevant, but not exact, "The Algorithm That Controls Social Media".   Apparently unknown to most of the people who use eBay, they contract with a company named Akamai, who monitors users across the web, and if you have a "bad reputation" on social media, or anywhere on the web, they deny people the use of eBay.  Who would have thought that China policy now controls eBay?  I tried to buy an item using PayPal today, and got this error message:  You don't have permission to access "http://pay.ebay.com/rxo?" on this server.  After a bit of research, I discovered the Akamai link, and that this has been going on for years.  Suspect they discovered, oh horrors, I'm a conservative.  Took me forever to get through the Captcha.  However, Akamai said my IP address "did not receive a bad risk score."  But I was blocked anyhow.  Turned my phone off to get a new IP, turned the laptop off, tried again, no luck using Firefox.  Had to go to Opera and use a private window to buy my item. Along with all the other mystifying things going on with our often used web sites today, I'm throwing this one in the pot.