Deplatorming wasn’t enough. PayPal decided to launch a trial balloon in which it would add spreading misinformation to its acceptable use policy (without defining it) and then fine users $2,500 for every violation. That could easily spiral into the tens of thousands of dollars for conservatives or someone who believes that men and women are a biological reality.
After a social media backlash that went beyond the usual conservative influencers, PayPal announced that it was pulling back.
“An AUP notice recently went out in error that included incorrect information,” a PayPal spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “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.”
PayPal isn’t denying that such a policy went out. It’s claiming that it went “out in error” and included “incorrect information”. That means the policy existed, it was either an internal proposal that was being hashed out or a trial balloon it intended to implement. Either way it shows what’s coming next and not just on PayPal, but any Big Tech payment system.
Disagree with our views and we’ll clean out your funds.
The specific PayPal TOS terms described, “sending, posting or publication of any messages, content or materials that, in PayPal’s sole discretion, (a) are harmful, obscene, harassing or objectionable, (b) depict or appear to depict nudity, sexual or other intimate activities, (c) depict or promote illegal drug use, (d) depict or promote violence, criminal activity, cruelty or self-harm (e) depict, promote or incite hatred or discrimination of protected groups or of individuals or groups based on protected characteristics (e.g. race, religion, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation etc.) (f) presents a risk to consumer safety or (financial) wellbeing, (g) are fraudulent, promote misinformation or are unlawful, (h) infringes the intellectual property rights or other proprietary rights of any party or (i) are otherwise unfit for publication.”
The sheer elasticity of these criteria are really something. Especially ‘i’.
PayPal’s sole discretion allows it to define what is “misinformation”. And then charge users for “damages”.
“If you are a seller and receive funds for transactions that violate the Acceptable Use Policy, then in addition to being subject to the above actions you will be liable to PayPal for the amount of PayPal’s damages caused by your violation of the Acceptable Use Policy. You acknowledge and agree that $2,500.00 U.S. dollars per violation of the Acceptable Use Policy is presently a reasonable minimum estimate of PayPal’s actual damages.”
This kind of thing is exactly what Democrat government authorities were demanding in the fight against “misinformation”. It’s China’s social credit system outsourced to Big Tech monopolies.
https://www.frontpagemag.com/paypals-2500-fine-for-views-they-disagree-with-shows-whats-coming/