Motorola is facing intense backlash after reports revealed that some of its smartphones were quietly redirecting users through affiliate tracking links whenever they opened the Amazon Shopping app. The bizarre behavior, first spotted by Android users and later confirmed by multiple tech publications, has triggered fresh concerns about pre-installed software, user privacy, and aggressive monetization tactics inside the Android ecosystem.
The controversy began when a Reddit user noticed that their Motorola Razr 60 Ultra briefly opened Google Chrome before launching the Amazon Shopping app. The browser flash lasted only a fraction of a second, making it nearly invisible to most users. Investigations later revealed that the redirect routed traffic through tracking domains capable of injecting affiliate identifiers into Amazon sessions.
According to findings first reported by 9to5Google, the issue was tied to Motorola’s pre-installed Smart Feed application. The redirect reportedly triggered only when users launched Amazon from the app drawer instead of a homescreen shortcut, which helped keep the behavior largely hidden from ordinary users.
What alarmed privacy advocates even more was the nature of the redirect chain itself. Traffic was seen briefly passing through domains associated with Device Native, a company specializing in mobile advertising and on-device recommendation systems. Another domain involved in the process appeared linked to fashion influencer Kira Abboud, although researchers noted that the affiliate identifiers being injected did not publicly match codes tied to her accounts.
Motorola has now officially responded to the controversy and confirmed the behavior existed. In statements shared with media outlets, the company insisted the redirects were “unintended” and claimed the issue has already been fixed. Motorola said the functionality originated from an “app search and suggestion experience” co-developed with Device Native for the Moto App Launcher.
The company stated that some users in the United States launching the Amazon Shopping app were inadvertently routed through a web tracking link before the app opened normally. Motorola added that it “promptly corrected the routing configuration” and said users should now expect applications to launch directly without intermediary redirects.
However, Motorola’s explanation has not stopped criticism from intensifying online. Many users and developers argue that launcher-level interception of app launches crosses a serious trust boundary, especially when affiliate monetization is involved. Critics say smartphone makers should never reroute user traffic through hidden advertising systems without explicit consent.
The controversy has also reignited debate around Android bloatware and pre-installed services on flagship phones. Motorola’s Razr Fold and Razr Ultra devices are marketed as premium products, with some models costing well over $1,000. Users now question why advertising-related systems were integrated so deeply into the software experience on high-end devices in the first place.
Security-conscious Android communities reacted especially strongly. Discussions across Hacker News and Reddit quickly shifted toward concerns about OEM software integrity, third-party partnerships, and hidden monetization systems embedded at the launcher level. Some commenters even compared the incident to Lenovo’s controversial Superfish scandal from years ago, given Motorola’s ownership under Lenovo.
While there is currently no evidence suggesting passwords, payment information, or private Amazon account data were compromised, experts say the issue still raises major ethical questions. Affiliate systems are typically designed to reward creators or publishers for driving sales traffic voluntarily. Injecting affiliate attribution through background redirects on user devices creates a far murkier situation, particularly when users are never informed the process is happening.
The incident also highlights how subtle monetization systems can operate almost invisibly inside modern smartphones. Because the redirect happened so quickly, many users would likely never notice it occurring unless they were actively watching the screen or monitoring network activity. Critics say this kind of hidden advertising systems behavior damages trust in Android phone makers.
Motorola says the issue has now been resolved, but the fallout may continue. Privacy advocates are likely to scrutinize other pre-installed recommendation systems and launcher integrations more closely after this incident. Meanwhile, Android users are once again being reminded that software bundled directly by phone manufacturers can sometimes behave in unexpected ways beyond Google’s core Android platform.
Some users have already started disabling the Smart Feed app manually as a precautionary measure. Reports indicate that disabling Smart Feed immediately stops the redirect behavior without affecting basic phone functionality. The controversy has also revived concerns surrounding hidden software components operating quietly in the background on Android devices.
For Motorola, the timing could hardly be worse. The company has spent the past two years rebuilding its premium smartphone reputation with foldables and AI-focused Android devices. A controversy involving hidden affiliate routing and covert tracking behavior now threatens to undermine that momentum just as competition in the foldable market becomes more aggressive.
