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| PayPal says it stopped Wikileaks payments on US letter | PayPal says it stopped Wikileaks payments on US letter |
| (5 days later) | |
| PayPal has said that its decision to stop people from using its service to make donations to Wikileaks was made after a letter from the US government. | PayPal has said that its decision to stop people from using its service to make donations to Wikileaks was made after a letter from the US government. |
| A vice-president at the online payments firm said the State Department had said that the activities of the website were illegal in the US. | A vice-president at the online payments firm said the State Department had said that the activities of the website were illegal in the US. |
| PayPal suspended payments to Wikileaks last week, and has been followed by Visa Europe and Mastercard. | PayPal suspended payments to Wikileaks last week, and has been followed by Visa Europe and Mastercard. |
| Amazon and Swiss bank PostFinance have also cut ties with Wikileaks. | Amazon and Swiss bank PostFinance have also cut ties with Wikileaks. |
| PayPal's vice-president Osama Bedier told a conference that the company's acceptable use policy group had decided to suspend Wikileaks' account after the State Department sent a letter on 27 November, adding that it was a "straightforward" decision. | PayPal's vice-president Osama Bedier told a conference that the company's acceptable use policy group had decided to suspend Wikileaks' account after the State Department sent a letter on 27 November, adding that it was a "straightforward" decision. |
| The company, which is owned by US online auction giant eBay, later clarified that Mr Bedier's comments referred to a letter sent from the State Department to Wikileaks, not directly to Paypal. | The company, which is owned by US online auction giant eBay, later clarified that Mr Bedier's comments referred to a letter sent from the State Department to Wikileaks, not directly to Paypal. |
| A State Department official also said the government department had not contacted Paypal. | A State Department official also said the government department had not contacted Paypal. |
| US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley tweeted: "The US government did not write to PayPal requesting any action regarding #WikiLeaks. Not true." | US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley tweeted: "The US government did not write to PayPal requesting any action regarding #WikiLeaks. Not true." |
| Legal threat | Legal threat |
| On Tuesday, Mastercard said that it was suspending payments to Wikileaks "until the situation is resolved". | On Tuesday, Mastercard said that it was suspending payments to Wikileaks "until the situation is resolved". |
| This was followed by Visa Europe on Wednesday, which said it would be carrying out an investigation into the whistle-blowing website. | This was followed by Visa Europe on Wednesday, which said it would be carrying out an investigation into the whistle-blowing website. |
| Visa Europe said it wanted to determine whether the nature of Wikileaks' business "contravenes Visa operating rules". | Visa Europe said it wanted to determine whether the nature of Wikileaks' business "contravenes Visa operating rules". |
| Both companies are now facing the threat of legal action from the IT company that enables Wikileaks to accept credit and debit card donations. | Both companies are now facing the threat of legal action from the IT company that enables Wikileaks to accept credit and debit card donations. |
| Datacell, which operates from Switzerland and Iceland, said it would move immediately to try to force Visa Europe and Mastercard to resume allowing payments to the whistle-blowing website. | |
| Datacell claimed in its statement that Visa had come under political pressure and had "put priority on political influence over the law". | Datacell claimed in its statement that Visa had come under political pressure and had "put priority on political influence over the law". |
| It added that the credit card company's actions were harming both Datacell and Wikileaks. | It added that the credit card company's actions were harming both Datacell and Wikileaks. |
| A spokeswoman for Visa Europe said it would not be making any comment regarding Datacell at this time. Mastercard has also yet to make a statement on the matter. | A spokeswoman for Visa Europe said it would not be making any comment regarding Datacell at this time. Mastercard has also yet to make a statement on the matter. |
| Mastercard has, however, commented on claims that pro-Wikileaks internet hackers had brought down its website. | Mastercard has, however, commented on claims that pro-Wikileaks internet hackers had brought down its website. |
| Mastercard said there was "no impact" on people's ability to use their cards for transactions. | Mastercard said there was "no impact" on people's ability to use their cards for transactions. |
| Datacell's chief executive Andreas Fink urged Visa to "just simply do their business where they are good at - transferring money". | Datacell's chief executive Andreas Fink urged Visa to "just simply do their business where they are good at - transferring money". |
| Datacell added that the suspension would last for an initial seven days, but this has yet to be confirmed by Visa Europe. | Datacell added that the suspension would last for an initial seven days, but this has yet to be confirmed by Visa Europe. |
| The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, was arrested in London on Tuesday, connected to sexual assault allegations in Sweden. | The founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, was arrested in London on Tuesday, connected to sexual assault allegations in Sweden. |
| He was refused bail, but has vowed to fight extradition. | He was refused bail, but has vowed to fight extradition. |