PayPal Freezes the Assets of Wikileaks.org

[da_ewok]

This appears to be true - BUT in saying that - why if PP have already done the dirty once would you insist on still using them? - Logic defies me currently.

"Paypal has as of 23rd of January 2010 frozen WikiLeaks assets. This is the second time that this happens. The last time we struggled for more than half a year to resolve this issue. By working with the respected and recognized German foundation Wau Holland Stiftung we tried to avoid this from happening again — apparently without avail."
 The submitter adds: "Hopefully we can pressure PayPal to resolve this quickly, since this seems like a dangerous political decision."

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/01/23/2138204/PayPal-Freezes-the-Assets-of-Wikileaksorg?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29

Some of the comments are very interesting - considering this is NOT AN Australian argument - yet the argument appears to be the same world over.

This has been going on for many years, with many different groups. Until people stop using Paypal, or some sort of oversight or audit is performed, it will continue to happen. Mayhap Wikileaks should try and dig up information on Paypal.

Banks can't take or freeze your money simply because they don't like what you do (which Paypal often does)

It's actually worse than that... they can take and freeze your money because they don't like what one of your business partners does...


Now that the Government found their balls to stand up to China for once, maybe it can do the same with corporations.

It's not the government that found a new pair, but Google!

Your thoughts?

[cueperkins]

Hi Wokkie...nice to see ya mate.....I think that the reason Paypal get away with this in Australia is because they are not EFT Code signatories.  I'll just go take a look at banks and when they can freeze assets....and if not why not....that should give us some idea why Paypal get's away with it, when  bank can't do that unless due process is entered into...in other words, it would have to be as part of a repossession....any suspicion of fraud is reported to authorities and they freeze the assets from my understanding of it....not the bank itself.

Hey did you get to meet Prince Willy when he visited Kinglake?

[*CountessA*]

*gives a big hello wave to Ewok*

This is one of the major emerging problems with PayPal. This grabbing of funds without adequate reason - it's terrifying for sellers.

[da_ewok]

Hi Wokkie...nice to see ya mate.....I think that the reason Paypal get away with this in Australia is because they are not EFT Code signatories.  I'll just go take a look at banks and when they can freeze assets....and if not why not....that should give us some idea why Paypal get's away with it, when  bank can't do that unless due process is entered into...in other words, it would have to be as part of a repossession....any suspicion of fraud is reported to authorities and they freeze the assets from my understanding of it....not the bank itself.

Hey did you get to meet Prince Willy when he visited Kinglake?

I don't beleive this is an AU website/company/volunteer organisiation - that is what makes it so interesting - the same problems are world-wide with paypal - so why do governments allow them to rule the world like this?

[cueperkins]

I think it's because of their classification under their licensing in each country...they are not a bank, so they are not obliged to treat account holders as Banks are required to do....and....bank accounts can't be frozen by a bank.....a court order, under various acts has to be served on them first.....Paypal in Australia, introduced the holding of funds, a) to fund chargebacks, and b) in response to the Money Laundering Act, which doesn't entitle them to withhold funds at all......

So...AUSTRAC would be the first port of call if Paypal are still using the Anti Money Laundering legislation (which they have recently been found in breach of), to withhold funds....

I agree with you....they're pirates.....but it is our system and laws that are enabling them to be the loop hole king of the EFT marketplace.....

[Roo]

Hiya Wokkie!

Which country is this Wiki mob in?

Do they have anything like our Ombudsman?

[da_ewok]

sorry - I believe the mighty US of A - The domain is proxied - so I can't tell

and I see that Paypal have been up to again - with a powerseller - I can see them doing it - I have a few choice words - but I shall hold me tongue

[*CountessA*]

Not for too long, Ewok - your fingers will become very, very tired!

[lacey]

Hi Wokkie...nice to see ya mate.....I think that the reason Paypal get away with this in Australia is because they are not EFT Code signatories.  I'll just go take a look at banks and when they can freeze assets....and if not why not....that should give us some idea why Paypal get's away with it, when  bank can't do that unless due process is entered into...in other words, it would have to be as part of a repossession....any suspicion of fraud is reported to authorities and they freeze the assets from my understanding of it....not the bank itself.

Hey did you get to meet Prince Willy when he visited Kinglake?

I don't beleive this is an AU website/company/volunteer organisiation - that is what makes it so interesting - the same problems are world-wide with paypal - so why do governments allow them to rule the world like this?

Because they think it doesn't effect them?  maybe it's just too hard to push that pen across the paper?  Who knows?  Government are made up of people and they are no different to a lot of other people.  What doesn't effect them, they don't care about.  I guess they don't have any foresight as to where all this with Paypal will lead.

[da_ewok]

**BREAKING NEWS -  BREAKING NEWS -  BREAKING NEWS -  BREAKING NEWS**

THis 'Comapny' would appear to have (DOES HAVE) connections with Australia, This is straight from the website

Donate via Cash / Cheque
You can support us by posting cash, cheques or international money grams to one of the following addresses:

All countries
WikiLeaks ICT
BOX 4080, University of Melbourne
Victoria 3052, Australia

USD, EUR, AUD preferred. International cheques are best over $800 to avoid fees. If sending cash, please place it in a non-transparent envelope or a CD case for maximum security.

Kenya
WikiLeaks ICT
PO Box 8098-00200
Nairobi
Kenya

Other addresses are available on request from

Can anyone see what I can see? - Is that why they did it? Targetting AU companies or organisations?

[da_ewok]

**Wikileaks temporarily shuts down due to lack of funds** 
Whistleblowing website says it cannot continue without public donations and has appealed for cash
 
Matthew Weaver guardian.co.uk, Friday 29 January 2010 10.14 GMT Article history
Wikileaks said it could not continue operations until its costs were covered.

The whistleblowing website Wikileaks has temporarily shut down because of a lack of funds.

The site, which has been a major irritant to governments and big businesses since it launched in 2007, says it cannot keep going without more public donations.

Wikileaks' organisers announced the suspension in a statement on its site. "To concentrate on raising the funds necessary to keep us alive into 2010, we have reluctantly suspended all other operations, but will be back soon," it says.

Pleading for more cash, it explained that publishing hundreds of thousands of previously secret documents each year costs money.

"If staff are paid, our yearly budget is $600,000 [£372,000]," it said.

The site, which is part of the not-for-profit group Sunshine Press, adds: "We have raised just over $130,000 for this year but cannot meaningfully continue operations until costs are covered. These amount to just under $200,000pa."

Wikileaks refuses to accept corporate or government funding for fear of compromising its integrity.

Described by the Guardian as the "brown paper envelope for the digital age", it rose to prominence last year by hosting the Minton report on the activities of the oil trader Trafigura while the firm's lawyers were trying to prevent the press from revealing its contents.

Last year it also published a membership list of the British National party and it told the unfolding secret story of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon by releasing 500,000 intercepted pager messages.

Wikileaks's appeal for cash has prompted widespread support on the web. A Facebook group called Save Wikileaks has been formed and there are numerous supportive messages on Twitter.

Blogging for the Spectator Martin Bright, the former political editor of the New Statesman, wrote: "I know money is tight, but I urge anyone who cares about liberty to visit the site and donate."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jan/29/wikileaks-temporarily-closes-lack-funds

I get the feeling something else is going on here - just not sure what - perhaps paypal didn;t like the 'begging' - perhaps fund received were from 'illicit' sources?

I don't know

Very strange - will keep yopu updated

[*CountessA*]

Those are possibilities, Ewok. *nods thoughtfully*

Alternatively, perhaps PayPal is doing a favour for certain government groups who have an interest in seeing Wikileaks closed.

Without more information, it's hard to say...

[da_ewok]

Alternatively, perhaps PayPal is doing a favour for certain government groups who have an interest in seeing Wikileaks closed.

Gawd - never thought of that!

Certainly a possibility with what they do!

I'll keep watching and see what I see