The company co-founded by right-wing darling Peter Thiel was caught in a backlash over the weekend for saying it wouldn't allow its services to be used to promote misinformation. The company said that the policy was a big misunderstanding.
On Saturday, several conservative outlets reported that the company had updated its Acceptable Use Policy to prohibit the sending, posting, or publication of any messages, content, or materials that promote hate speech or otherwise cause harm. According to information in the initial AUP changes, those who violated the policy could have been fined $2,500.
A company spokesman said in a statement that the notice was withdrawn over the weekend.
“An AUP notice for the U.S. 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. We’re sorry for the confusion this has caused.”
Wide controls over user accounts are maintained byPayPal. People who violate the Acceptable Use Policy may be responsible for damages to the company. The added language of the AUP would have put misinformation in the same category as promoting illegal drug use.
Users were conflating the $2,500 fine with any lies they tell on other social media platforms after the initial policy update fromPayPal. Major officials like Federal Communications Commission commissioner Brendan Carr called it "Orwelian" and argued "This is why it is so important that state and federal legislatures pass laws that prohibit discrimination by tech companies and protect free speech."
David Marcus called out his old company.
The conservative's take on the AUP changes is crazy. PayPal is not a social media company, and the policy would have attributed those who use the service to promote hate speech.
Social media companies that conduct moderation don't attack accounts for posting outside of their sphere. The suspension of his account was for an antisemitic post he made. Antisemitic content was not allowed on the rapper's account on the social media platform. If Ye paid for services that promoted his drivel, the AUP would kick in.
Right-wing circles aren't ready to let it off the hook despite the company going backwards on its proposed policy It was called a case of cancellation culture by some right-wingers.
The Wall Street Journal reported a few years ago that PayPal was working to end payment services for companies that were bastions of hate speech. Infowars, headed by the human equivalent of a pot boiling over Alex Jones, suedPayPal over his ban through their parent company Free Speech Systems, but later dropped the lawsuit and the case is still HairMax
The CEO mentioned the Southern Poverty Law Center who brought certain issues to their attention, though he didn't agree with them. They have debates with us. Conservatives latched on to the idea that the company took advice from the SPLC, even though it was not true.
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