Paypal cancels Free Speech Union
By Jasmine Birtles
ANOTHER financial institution has shown its disdain for democracy and free speech by cancelling an organisation that holds views it does not like.
The payment processing company Paypal has ‘cancelled’ The Free Speech Union , a group set up by journalist Toby Young to uphold and promote the values of free speech, free thought and open discussion. It has also refused to process payments for Young’s website, The Daily Sceptic – and even his own personal account.
Young has tried in vain to find out from Paypal why his organisations have been cancelled and how to get them reinstated. All he is told is that they have violated Paypal’s ‘Acceptable Use Policy’ although they refuse to tell him in what way.
“I contacted a customer service agent to find out how, exactly, all three accounts have violated PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy, but he could throw no light on the matter,” Young says in his email to members.
“I then submitted an appeal about the decisions to close the accounts, asking again how I’d violated the Policy, and they have not been successful. PayPal has still refused to say how the Free Speech Union violated its Policy.
“I can only assume the reason for the closure of the accounts is because PayPal disapproves of my efforts to uphold the right to free speech. We already know PayPal doesn’t set any store by free speech because it has closed the accounts of a number of websites and individuals who challenge the prevailing orthodoxy, whether it’s the wisdom of the vaccine mandates, the trans rights agenda or the claim that we’re in the midst of a ‘climate emergency’.”
This is not the first time that Paypal has cancelled individuals and organisations that spoke their minds whether about climate change, trans rights or other important social issues.
They are by no means the only financial organisation to do so either. As we itemise in this article at my website Money Magpie – Will your bank cancel you – Santander, HSBC, Wise and more have cancelled people whose views they do not like (mostly right of centre or Christian) and this seems to be just the start.
High time for a new set of financial institutions that support freedom and democracy, don’t you think?
Recently I received 3 identical letters-so much for reducing wasteful paper-informing me that my recent cash withdrawals at our local Post Office had been 'noted'; the letters went on to recommend that I switch to Applepay and/or Googlepay for convenience in the future.
This thoroughly patronising intrusion infuriated me and I complained , emphasising that I had every intention of using our Post Office for cash withdrawals, that furthermore the last remaining bank would soon close for good, leaving us with 2 free ATMs and the Post Office.
Local small businesses, already struggling with the fallout from the disastrous lockdowns, price rises and loss of many customers, prefer cash transactions and so do many customers, especially the elderly and those now reduced to virtual subsistence as the recession takes hold.
The reply from the bank's agent was that I should just ignore the letters, which were intended solely to educate customers.
Now we know that Paypal is flexing its digital muscles and joining the rest of the self appointed arbiters of our every transaction.
Never liked Paypal from inception, partly because of nefarious early dealings but mainly because it held onto your cash longer than necessary. And their exchange rates are dire. Stick to the credit card.