PayPal, for the second time in less than a month, is facing a backlash.
The backlash, according to Forbes, stems from a PayPal policy update that appears to give the platform the power to fine users who essentially engage in speech that PayPal does not like.
Background
This whole situation began in early October with a report from the Daily Wire. That report revealed that PayPal was planning to implement a policy that would allow it to fine users who promote “misinformation” of up to $2,500 per violation.
The outlet reported:
Among the changes are prohibitions on “the sending, posting, or publication of any messages, content, or materials” that “promote misinformation” or “present a risk to user safety or wellbeing.” Users are also barred from “the promotion of hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory.”
PayPal faced a significant backlash following the report, and, in response, the platform appeared to make the decision not to go forward with the policy. PayPal claimed that the whole situation was a mistake.
“An [Accepted Use Policy] notice recently went out in error that included incorrect information,” PayPal 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.”
Still, many raised questions about PayPal’s sincerity here, and, now it appears that these questions were raised for good reason.
The latest
PayPal has now removed from its policy the language about “misinformation.” But, the language that remains still has many users concerned.
Under the “restricted activities” portion of PayPal’s policy, it states that users may be punished for providing “false, inaccurate, or misleading information.” The punishment could be a fine of up to $2,500 or it could be the suspension of the user’s account, among other things.
Forbes reports that this part of PayPal’s policy has actually been in place since 2013.
But, the problem for PayPal, of course, is that it has lost some users’ trust following the leak of the updated policy – the one that PayPal claims was a mistake – earlier this month.
Accordingly, calls to boycott the platform continue.