Kobo Rejects 45% of Self-Published Books Over AI Concerns
Source: The Next Web
Kobo's aggressive content filtering—rejecting nearly half of submissions—shows self-publishing platforms abandoning permissiveness to become gatekeepers, at least around AI-generated content. The economics are straightforward: Kobo makes money on volume and discovery, so wholesale rejection only happens when liability or brand risk (user trust, retailer relationships, legal exposure) exceeds revenue. This creates friction in the self-publishing value chain. Authors now face simultaneous rejection from platforms, Amazon algorithm suppression, and reader skepticism. AI disclosure and detection shift from optional positioning to baseline operational cost.