SAN JOSE (LifeSiteNews) – Following blistering criticism, PayPal walked back plans to fine users up to $2,500 for spreading what it deems “misinformation,” while leaving in question whether it will implement sanctions for “intolerance” against homosexuals and gender-confused people.
The Daily Wire reported on Friday that a new user agreement from PayPal would have updated the left-wing payment giant’s “list of prohibited activities” to include “sending, posting, or publication of any messages, content, or materials” that “promote misinformation,” determined at PayPal’s “sole discretion.”
The policy change would also have prohibited posting content that PayPal considers to “present a risk to user safety or wellbeing” and would have expanded the company’s ban on “discriminatory” content to cover specific “protected groups” and characteristics, including sexual orientation and “gender identity.”
Violations of the new conditions may result in “damages” such as “$2,500.00 U.S. dollars per violation, which may be debited directly from your PayPal account,” the updated policy stated.
It was slated to take effect on November 3, just five days before the U.S. midterm elections.
READ: Top medical groups urge Biden admin to prosecute journalists exposing child ‘gender transitions’
But PayPal has since distanced itself from the changes amid growing backlash, claiming that the “misinformation” language in the new user agreement was sent out “in error.”
“An AUP notice recently went out in error that included incorrect information,” a spokesperson for PayPal told Fox Business on Saturday. “PayPal is not fining people for misinformation and this language was never intended to be inserted in our policy.”
The spokesperson didn’t address whether PayPal intended to scrap the proposed ban on “intolerance,” however.
‘Get your money out of paypal right now’
The news of PayPal’s apparent crackdown on disfavored speech had prompted scathing criticism online, including from the company’s former president David Marcus and founding COO David Sacks.
“Get your money out of paypal right now,” Sacks tweeted on Friday.
“The Left takes another abusive step to control the population in the run up to an election,” reacted Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton.
PayPal has a history of promoting the LGBT agenda and censoring conservative organizations and users who oppose COVID-19 mandates.
The company joined a letter in 2020 threatening to cut ties with states that pursue policies at odds with transgender ideology, and joined the leftist Anti-Defamation League the following year to track payments of alleged right-wing “extremism” groups.
PayPal made headlines more recently for putting a hold on donations and funds for a group of conservative mothers before reversing itself under pressure from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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Author Raymond Wolfe
