A new PayPal policy update authorizes the company to pull thousands of dollars from the accounts of users who spread “misinformation.”.Those who break PayPal's rules around misinformation and hate speech may be subject to damages, "including liquidated damages of $2,500.00 US dollars per violation, which may be debited directly from your PayPal account.".The wording of PayPal's new policy suggests that users who send several messages that are deemed "disinformation," could be fined for each individual post..Effective November 3, the new conditions to the PayPal user agreement include prohibitions on the sending, or publication of any messages or materials that "promote misinformation." The company already had a policy forbiding "hate," "intolerance," and "discrimination," but the updated rules explicitly apply to specific "protected groups.".The identities that are protected under this umbrella include race, religion, gender or gender identity, and sexual orientation. According to the incoming acceptable use policy, “the promotion of hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory," would also be deemed a violation of the company's policy and be grounds for penalty..In a user agreement, account holders must accept and that the penalty, including $2,500.00 fines, is “presently a reasonable minimum estimate of PayPal’s actual damages” due to the expense the firm incurs by accounting for both the violations and damage to its reputation..PayPal has been known to censor and deplatform organizations and individuals with certain political views. The site recently banned the Group Gays Against Groomers, an organization of LGBTQ2+ people who are calling attention to the sexualization and medicalization of children using gender ideology..Ian Miles Cheong, who has spoken extensively about the dangers of gender-affirming surgeries and medications for children, has also been removed from the site..On September 15, PayPal froze three accounts run by Toby Young, the general secretary of the British group Free Speech Union. PayPal reinstated the accounts nearly two weeks later and apologized to Young for the inconvenience. .In response to Young's account suspensions, UK lawmakers have introduced a bill that would bar companies like PayPal from freezing the accounts of campaign groups for political reasons.
