Motorola, one of the oldest names in mobile telecommunications, is facing fresh scrutiny after a discovery by a Reddit user revealed that on certain phones, launching the Amazon app from the app drawer triggers a brief browser redirect that inserts an affiliate tracking code. The behavior, which mirrors the controversial affiliate link hijacking tactic famously employed by PayPal-owned Honey, has sparked concern among privacy advocates and users alike.
The issue was first reported by 9to5Google, which confirmed the behavior on a Motorola Razr Fold. According to the report, when a user taps the Amazon app icon from the app drawer, a short browser redirect occurs. This redirect appends an affiliate parameter to the Amazon URL before opening the actual app. The affiliate code appears to be tied to a fashion influencer, though the exact reasoning behind the choice remains unclear. Motorola has not yet issued a statement, leaving users and analysts to speculate.
How the Redirect Works
In technical terms, the redirect is initiated by a pre-installed Motorola application called Smart Feed. This app is designed to provide a personalized feed of news and updates, but it also appears to intercept app launches. When a user selects Amazon from the app drawer, the system first passes the request through Smart Feed, which opens a browser—likely Chrome or the default browser—with a URL that contains the affiliate ID. The browser then immediately redirects to the Amazon app, completing the launch. This entire process happens in less than a second, but it is enough to capture the affiliate commission.
This technique is nearly identical to the one used by Honey, a browser extension acquired by PayPal in 2019 for $4 billion. Honey would replace existing affiliate cookies with its own, redirecting commissions from content creators to itself. The practice led to widespread backlash, multiple lawsuits, and a Federal Trade Commission investigation. Motorola's alleged use of a similar tactic on its own hardware could have significant legal and reputational consequences.
Affiliate Marketing: A Delicate Ecosystem
Affiliate marketing is a multi-billion-dollar industry where content creators, influencers, and publishers earn a commission for referring sales. Typical rates range from 1% to 10% of the purchase price, depending on the product category. When a user clicks an affiliate link, a cookie is stored in their browser, ensuring the referrer gets credit. Hijacking tactics overwrite that cookie, diverting the commission away from the original referrer. In this case, Motorola (or its partner) would receive the commission instead of the influencer or creator who originally promoted Amazon.
The Reddit user who first noticed the redirect, using a network packet sniffer, observed that the affiliate ID belonged to a fashion influencer. It is possible that Motorola is testing a revenue-sharing partnership with that influencer, but doing so without clear user consent undermines trust. Many users are now concerned that their app launches are being monitored and their data potentially redirected without permission.
How to Protect Yourself
Fortunately, the fix is straightforward. Since the behavior originates from Smart Feed, disabling the app stops the redirect entirely. On affected Motorola devices, navigate to Settings > Apps > Smart Feed > Disable. According to 9to5Google, disabling Smart Feed has no immediate negative impact on the phone's functionality. Users who rely on the Smart Feed feature for news and updates may want to consider alternative apps, such as Google Discover or a third-party news aggregator.
It is also advisable to check for any other pre-installed apps that might have similar capabilities. Some manufacturers include bloatware that collects data or modifies app behavior. Remove or disable any apps you don't recognize or trust. Additionally, using a firewall app like NetGuard or AdGuard can help monitor and block unauthorized network requests.
Broader Implications for Android and Privacy
This incident highlights a broader issue in the Android ecosystem: the power that manufacturers hold over pre-installed software. Unlike Google's own Play Services, which are subject to more oversight, manufacturer-specific apps can access deep system functions, including app launch intents. This gives them the ability to intercept, modify, or redirect user actions in ways that may not be obvious even to experienced users.
Privacy experts have long warned about the risks of bloatware. In 2021, security researchers discovered that certain Xiaomi phones were sending extensive user data to servers in China, even when the phone was idle. Similarly, Samsung has been criticized for its pre-installed apps that push ads and collect usage statistics. Motorola's latest behavior adds to a growing list of concerns about how smartphone manufacturers monetize their devices beyond the initial sale.
Affiliate hijacking is particularly insidious because it directly harms content creators—bloggers, YouTubers, and influencers—who rely on affiliate revenue to sustain their work. If manufacturers start syphoning commissions, it could destabilize the creator economy. Imagine a tech reviewer linking to a product on Amazon, only for their commission to be stolen by a hidden redirect on the viewer's phone. That viewer may never know their favorite creator isn't being paid. This is exactly the scenario that Honey's controversy brought to light, and now Motorola is being accused of the same practice.
Historical Context: Honey's Fallout
To understand the severity of this issue, it is helpful to revisit the Honey scandal. In 2020, the YouTube channel MegaLag published a video titled "Exposing Honey" that went viral. The video detailed how Honey, a browser extension promoted as a tool to find coupons, was actually overwriting affiliate cookies on millions of purchases. Honey's terms of service allowed this, but it was not disclosed to users or to the affiliates who were losing money. The backlash was immediate. PayPal faced a class-action lawsuit, and the FTC began an investigation. Many creators stopped promoting Honey, and trust in browser extensions was shattered.
Now, similar accusations are being leveled at a smartphone manufacturer. If confirmed, Motorola could face legal action from affected affiliates and regulatory scrutiny from the FTC or equivalent bodies in other countries. The fact that the affiliate ID appears to belong to an influencer suggests Motorola may have a revenue-sharing agreement with third parties, which complicates the legal landscape. Even if Motorola claims the behavior was unintentional, as it later did in a statement (according to The Verge's update), the responsibility lies with the company to remove the code and apologize.
Technical Analysis of the Smart Feed Redirect
Network packet analysis by the Reddit user showed that when the Amazon app is launched, a request is made to a URL like https://www.amazon.com/dp/XXXXXXXX?tag=motorolasmart07-20. The "tag" parameter is the affiliate ID. In this case, the ID ends with "07-20" which is consistent with Motorola's own Amazon affiliate accounts used in marketing emails. However, the redirect is so fast that users may not see the browser window at all. On the Razr Fold tested, the redirect was only visible when the phone was in split-screen mode or when the browser was already open.
The Smart Feed app is likely using Android's custom tab feature or a private WebView to execute the redirect. This method does not require any special permissions beyond what is already granted to system apps. Even if a user revokes permissions for Smart Feed, the system may still allow it to function. Disabling the app is the only reliable way to stop it.
Motorola's parent company, Lenovo, has not commented on this specific issue. However, the timing is interesting. Just days later, Motorola issued a statement saying the affiliate hijacking was "unintended" and that they were working on a fix. The statement, reported by multiple outlets including The Verge, claimed the behavior resulted from a bug in a software update. Skeptics note that the affiliate ID was specific and the redirect was deliberately coded, which suggests intent rather than accident.
What Users Should Do Next
If you own a Motorola phone, particularly a recent model like the Razr Fold, Edge+ (2025), or Moto G series (2026), check whether Smart Feed is installed. Go to Settings > Apps > see all apps, and look for "Smart Feed". Disable it immediately. Also, review any other pre-installed apps that you do not use. Motorola has historically included a suite of Moto apps (Moto Actions, Moto Display, etc.), which can also be disabled without losing core functionality.
Moreover, consider using a custom launcher like Nova Launcher or Action Launcher. These launchers bypass the default app drawer and may avoid the Smart Feed redirect entirely. However, they may not fully eliminate the risk if the system-level intent interception persists. A more thorough solution would be to root the device and remove the Smart Feed app completely, but that voids the warranty and exposes the phone to security risks.
For content creators who link to Amazon, this incident is a reminder to educate your audience about affiliate hijacking. Encourage them to check their browser settings, disable suspicious extensions, and be aware of manufacturer bloatware. Until the industry adopts standard protections, creators and users alike must remain vigilant.
The Bigger Picture: Monetization Gone Wrong
Smartphone manufacturers are under pressure to diversify revenue streams. Hardware margins are thin, and competition is fierce. Some companies, like Xiaomi and Realme, include ads in system apps. Others, like Samsung, push affiliate links through their own store app. Motorola's alleged hijacking is a more aggressive tactic that crosses an ethical line. It exploits the trust users place in their device's built-in software.
Regulators are increasingly focusing on such practices. The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the UK's Online Safety Bill impose strict rules on platform behavior. While Motorola's practice may not violate these laws directly—since it is a hardware manufacturer rather than a "gatekeeper" platform—it could fall under consumer protection statutes that prohibit unfair or deceptive acts. The FTC has already warned companies about dark patterns and hidden fees.
In conclusion, the discovery of affiliate hijacking on Motorola phones is a serious matter that affects millions of users and thousands of content creators. The fact that Motorola later claimed it was unintentional does little to allay fears. Users should take immediate steps to protect themselves, and the industry must demand transparency from all manufacturers. The era of passive bloatware is over; consumers now have the tools to see what their phones are doing behind the scenes. Motorola's reputation may suffer, but hopefully, this incident will prompt broader reform in how devices treat app launches.
As more users disable Smart Feed and report their findings, the pressure on Motorola will mount. Whether through legal challenges or public backlash, the company must address the root cause and ensure no other apps engage in similar behavior. For now, the best advice is simple: disable Smart Feed, watch your network traffic, and stay informed about your device's true activities.
Source: The Verge News