The #boycottpaypal push to get everyone to close their paypal accounts in protest over the Papal T&C updates on fines for misinformation has worked.
The T&C update allowed them to fine users $2,500 per transgression.
On seeing the social media storm, Paypal made a fast U-turn, claiming the T&Cs were a minor error.
Paypal has reinstated the accounts of some large players who got main-stream media attention over their PayPal de-financing, but the smaller players such as ourselves at Not On The Beeb remain banned–even if reinstated, we would not work if this company again in any capacity.
Social media has been flood with videos such as this one from Australia
By Greg Wilson
A red-faced PayPal walked back a shocking new policy announcement that users who advance “misinformation” could face fines of $2,500 per offence, saying it was all a mistake.
The financial services company, which has repeatedly deplatformed organizations and individual commentators for their political views, announced Saturday.
“An [Accepted Use Policy] notice recently went out in error that included incorrect information,” a PayPal spokesperson said. “PayPal is not fining people for misinformation and this language was never intended to be inserted in our policy. We’re sorry for the confusion this has caused.”
The original announcement said PayPal would expand its “existing list of prohibited activities” on November 3. Among the changes were prohibitions on using the platform for “the sending, posting, or publication of any messages, content, or materials” that “promote misinformation” or “present a risk to user safety or wellbeing.” Users were also barred under the policy from “the promotion of hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory.”
Before posting its initial story, The Daily Wire reached out to PayPal for definitions of the added terms but received no response.
The report sparked outrage online, with many people tweeting pledges to dump the online payment facilitator. Particularly chilling was the fact that the policy said determinations of what could be deemed “misinformation,” or a threat to the “wellbeing” of other users was to be at the “sole discretion” of PayPal. The now-aborted policy said users could be liable for “damages” — including the removal of $2,500 “debited directly from your PayPal account” per offence.
“Under existing law, PayPal has the ability as a private company to implement this type of viewpoint-discriminatory policy,” Aaron Terr, a senior program officer at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, told The Daily Wire. “Whatever motivation PayPal has for establishing these vague new categories of prohibited expression, they will almost certainly have a severe chilling effect on users’ speech. As is often the case with ill-defined and viewpoint-discriminatory speech codes, those with unpopular or minority viewpoints will likely bear the brunt of these restrictions.”
The announcement and reversal comes days after PayPal cancelled three accounts linked to Toby Young, a commentator who runs a nonprofit called Free Speech Union. The organization has defended clients such as actor and comedian Russell Brand, who recently moved his show from YouTube to Rumble in reaction to censorship from the former platform.
Platforms such as Amazon, Twitter, and Facebook have censored conservatives over their positions on controversial social issues, including transgenderism, vaccination mandates, and homosexuality. GoFundMe seized millions in funds raised for trucker protests in Canada earlier this year, while Google recently began suppressing search results for crisis pregnancy centres.
PayPal has also sanctioned Gays Against Groomers, a group that opposes the sexualization of children, as well as evolutionary biologist Colin Wright and journalist Ian Miles Cheong. The company featured a rainbow-coloured banner on its social media platforms during the month of June affirming that the platform is “open for all” — and PayPal U.K. still sports the banner.
“Whatever PayPal’s intentions may be, censorship and chilling free speech is precisely the effect of these kinds of vaguely worded policies,” Tedesco added. “We’ve seen social media companies use similar policies to stifle free speech on their platforms. We can expect a similar outcome with PayPal.”
Even the mainstream media have commented with this article from Yahoo.
PayPal Pulls Back, Says It Won’t Fine Customers $2,500 for ‘Misinformation’ after Backlash
PayPal has backtracked on a published policy that would have fined users $2,500 for spreading “misinformation,” claiming the update had gone out “in error.”
“An AUP notice recently went out in error that included incorrect information. PayPal is not fining people for misinformation and this language was never intended to be inserted in our policy. Our teams are working to correct our policy pages. We’re sorry for the confusion this has caused,” a spokesperson told National Review in a written statement.
The course reversal comes after the policy changes had started to attract media scrutiny as well as criticism on Twitter. Former PayPal president David Marcus even blasted the company over the implication that it could seize customers’ money for finding their views objectionable.
“It’s hard for me to openly criticize a company I used to love and gave so much to. But @PayPal’s new AUP goes against everything I believe in,” the cryptocurrency entrepreneur said Saturday. “A private company now gets to decide to take your money if you say something they disagree with. Insanity.”
Tech titan Elon Musk replied, “Agreed,” in a comment that got thousands of likes. The policy update had appeared to authorize the company to pull a significant sum of money from the accounts of users who spread “misinformation,” among other newly listed offenses.
The new conditions were scheduled to be added to the restricted activity section of the PayPal User agreement effective November 3, the Daily Wire first reported. Changes included prohibitions on “the sending, posting, or publication of any messages, content, or materials” that “promote misinformation.” While the prior policy already forbade “hate,” “intolerance,” and discrimination, the new one would have explicitly applied to specific “protected groups” and “individuals or groups based on protected characteristics.” Identities under this umbrella included race, religion, gender or gender identity, and sexual orientation.
The firm’s current rulebook doesn’t list these terms. It’s unclear whether PayPal will also pull back these specific prohibitions on “discriminatory” language, or if it is only scrubbing the “misinformation” clause.
Breaking the rule against misinformation and hate speech “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,” the company had originally warned. In a user agreement, account holders accept and attest that the penalty is “presently a reasonable minimum estimate of PayPal’s actual damages” due to the expense the firm incurs by accounting for the violations as well as damage to its reputation. PayPal was founded by Peter Thiel, who has invested in a number of GOP rising stars and “conservative” business ventures. Ebay acquired the company in 2002 and has managed it since. In recent years, PayPal has been known to censor or deplatform organizations or individuals for certain political commentary, particularly that which is considered right-wing.
It recently banned Gays Against Groomers, a group composed of LGBT-identifying people that claims to call attention to the sexualization and medicalization of children via gender ideology and the transgender movement. Minutes later, PayPal’s subsidiary Venmo reportedly barred the organization from access. Evolutionary biologist Colin Wright and journalist Ian Miles Cheong, who regularly expose the dangers of transgenderism for minors, have also been removed.
SOURCE: https://news.yahoo.com/paypal-policy-permits-company-fine-143946902.html The #boycottpaypal push to close paypal accounts over the Papal T&C update for misinformation has worked.
The T&C update allowed them to to fine users $2,500 per transgression.
O)mn seeing the social media storm, Paypal made a fast U-turn, claiming the T&Cs were a minor error.
