Posted on 10/10/2022 6:48:34 AM PDT by Yo-Yo
Yahoo! Finance (Adam Sabes) reported yesterday (as did many other sites):
A new PayPal user agreement that threatens to fine users up to $2,500 if they use the service to "promote misinformation," was sent out "in error," a PayPal spokesperson tells FOX Business.The updated PayPal Acceptable Use Policy effective Nov. 3 included an expansion of "prohibited activities," which includes the "ending, posting, or publication of messages, content, or materials that meet certain criteria."
According to the updated PayPal user agreement, the company states that each violation could result in "liquidated damages of $2,500.00" per violation, which would be withdrawn directly from their account.
One of the violations listed, according to the agreement, is that … "[users] may not use the PayPal service for activities that … involve the sending, posting, or publication of any messages, content, or materials that, in PayPal's sole discretion … promote misinformation."
But it appears that the policy continues to be in effect for other speech, according to PayPal's official Acceptable Use Policy, last updated Sept. 20, 2021:
Violation of this Acceptable Use Policy constitutes a violation of the PayPal User Agreement and may subject you to damages, including liquidated damages of $2,500.00 U.S. dollars per violation, which may be debited directly from your PayPal account(s) as outlined in the User Agreement (see "Restricted Activities and Holds" section of the PayPal User Agreement).Prohibited activities
You may not use the PayPal service for activities that … relate to … the promotion of hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory or the financial exploitation of a crime ….
And the cited "Restricted Activities and Holds" policy makes clear that "Actions We May Take if You Engage in Any Restricted Activities" are determined based on PayPal making the decision "in our sole discretion," if Paypal "believe[s] that you've engaged in any of these activities."
So if PayPal "in [its] sole discretion" concludes that you're using PayPal "for activities that … relate to transactions involving … promotion of" "discriminatory" "intolerance"—presumably including distributing publications, or for that matter buying publications (since that's an activity related to transactions involving the promotion of certain views)—it can just take $2500 straight from your account.
Might you, for instance, be sharply criticizing a religion? Or saying things that sharply condemn, say, government officials (police, FBI, etc.) in ways that some might say involve "promotion of hate"? Or praising people who have acted violently (e.g., in what you think is justifiable self-defense, or defense of others, or even war or revolution)? If PayPal thinks it's bad, it'll just take your money.
Sounds like a good reason to think twice about using PayPal. I've just withdrawn the $1000+ I have in my PayPal account, and I'm starting the process of disentangling myself from the service to the extent possible.
“This action of theirs, I believe, is to close down businesses and organizations that they don’t approve of, such as MAGA hat stores, The Daily Wire, Free Republic.”
That seems plausible to me.
“Pay-pal is an online payment option.”
That’s what I thought but then what’s the deal on offensive posts?
Paypal has merchant accounts and personal accounts.
The personal accounts, used to pay merchants, belong to individuals who may be posters on various social media, including Free Republic.
Those individuals would be subject to the proposed terms of service and would be at risk of a $2500 charge to their bank accounts or credit cards per posting if they express any ideas of which Paypal executives disapprove.
Neat end-run on the first amendment.
No government or corporation should be permitted to have such power.
This is what FASCISM looks like. Private business doing what our Constitution prohibit the government from doing.
Fortunately capitalism will solve this problem as people who do not like the new terms of service can find another way to do what ever they do with pay pal. They have options.
If enough people or businesses leave pay pal they will either change or go out of business.
Being WOKE is not a good business strategy.
I thought it was strange that these companies were going broke just as many American consumers watched their discretionary income slipped away; I easily boycott these firms with no effort at all - because I’m buying so much less than years ago anyway.
Does the fine apply to those showing intolerance to pro-lifers? or Trump supporters? (Didn’t think so.)
That I don’t know.
I hope so. Hopefully it will be accepted more places thsn paypal if he does. Need a good payment process that isn’t nazi controlled for online purchases
That’s it for them
This would be a slam dunk lawsuit. Companies cannot make and enforce penalties.
They can kick you off their service, but they cannot fine you.
“ That’s what I thought but then what’s the deal on offensive posts?”
Oh! They are probably referring to the posts on webpages that users pay to be members of.
We (FR) probably should have started looking for a new payment method after how they dealt with the Truckers in Canada.
Just cancelled my Payday account....
I think all the Nigerian spammers wanting to fix the issue with my PayPal account by sharing my information with them should go into business and start a legit competing company. It’s always “fun” when I get these emails as I don’t use PayPal.
Musk was a cofounder of Paypal.
Musk was a cofounder of PP.
Just closed my account that I’ve had for 20+ years.
Paypal down 5.75% =>
84.98 -5.18 (5.75%)
PYPL(NASDAQ)
Oct 10, 12:06 PM EDT
We all know it’s to shut down sensible voices of the non-woke. Clever how the government gets around that annoying 4th amendment. The government? Yes. The government is fully aware that Paypal and others are violating the 4th amendment, and they fully accept it, allow it, and support it. Therefore the government is doing it, by proxy.
By proxy or not, it is still violating the law. (The government).
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