PayPal backs off on $2.5K ‘misinformation’ fine after Elon Musk, former company president intervene

A one-word response from Elon Musk might have been influential, if not decisive, in convincing PayPal to reverse an alleged confiscatory rule.

The online payment company reportedly had floated an amendment in its Acceptable Use Policy that would fine users $2,500 for, among other things, spreading misinformation, with is a rather ambiguous term these days.

Former PayPal president David Marcus took to Twitter to lament this change in the terms of service that was reportedly set to go into effect on November 3:

“It’s hard for me to openly criticize a company I used to love and gave so much to. But @PayPal’s new AUP goes against everything I believe in. A private company now gets to decide to take your money if you say something they disagree with. Insanity,” he wrote.

“Agreed,” Musk, a PayPal co-founder, replied succinctly.

With a statement, PayPal subsequently backed away from the policy that many concluded was unfriendly:

“An AUP notice 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. Our teams are working to correct our policy pages…We’re sorry for the confusion this has caused.”

By then, the backlash had already reached an intense level, with other free-speech-supporting influencers weighing in. Here is just a representative sample of the outrage that had emerged.

Some social media users also expressed skepticism that PayPal had made a mere error that never was meant for implementation.

“PayPal and other large tech companies have previously made news when cutting ties or denying service to individuals or companies based on their political positions, affiliations, or activities — mainly if not almost exclusively targeting those on the political right,” the liberal Mediiate website admitted.

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