Browser Use blocks Taobao pages needed for anti-cheat abuse reporting

Resolved 💬 1 comment Opened Jun 26, 2026 by waffensam Closed Jun 26, 2026

Summary

Codex Browser Use currently blocks Taobao search and item pages, even for a safety/governance workflow where the user is trying to identify and report listings that sell game cheats.

This appears to be an overbroad site-level block. The user intent is defensive: collect evidence, review suspicious listings, and prepare reports against products selling cheats for Marathon / 失落星船.

Blocked URLs observed

  • https://s.taobao.com/search
  • https://item.taobao.com/item.htm

The tool returned:

Browser Use rejected this action due to browser security policy. Reason: Browser Use is not permitted on https://s.taobao.com/search.

and similarly for item.taobao.com/item.htm.

The rejection also says the agent must not use alternate browser surfaces, raw CDP, indirect execution, or policy circumvention.

Why this is a problem

This blocks legitimate safety and platform-governance workflows, including:

  • Searching for listings selling game cheats, macros, aimbots, ESP, DMA tools, or other abuse-enabling products.
  • Reviewing listing titles/details for evidence.
  • Taking screenshots or summarizing suspicious listings.
  • Preparing user-confirmed reports.

The user was not asking Codex to buy items, message sellers, bypass Taobao anti-bot controls, or submit reports without review.

Requested change

Please consider a safer scoped exception or workflow mode for this class of task:

  • Allow read-only navigation to Taobao search/item pages when the user intent is abuse reporting or safety research.
  • Still block purchases, seller chat, account changes, payments, and final report submission unless explicitly confirmed by the user.
  • Allow screenshot/evidence capture and text extraction for suspicious listings.
  • Preserve action-time confirmation for any report submission or other third-party side effect.

Suggested safety boundary

For e-commerce abuse-reporting workflows, Browser Use could permit:

  • Search result review
  • Item page read-only inspection
  • Evidence screenshots
  • Drafting report text

But require explicit user confirmation before:

  • Submitting a report
  • Contacting a seller
  • Purchasing anything
  • Uploading files
  • Sending personal information

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