Bradley Manning PayPal Account Suspended: Alleged WikiLeaks Source's Support Account Reportedly Frozen

PayPal is entering the WikiLeaks controversy once again, this time reportedly freezing an account used by supporters of alleged source Bradley Manning. (Scroll down for update.)

PayPal first entered the WikiLeaks fray in December, when it cut off an account being used by WikiLeaks supporters to provide the whistle-blowing group with funds. PayPal later admitted that it had been pressured by the State Department to cut off the funds. Osama Bedier, VP of platform, mobile and new ventures, told a group that, "[The] State Dept told us these were illegal activities. It was straightforward," reported HuffPost. "We [...] comply with regulations around the world, making sure that we protect our brand," Bedier added.

In return, an online group known as Anonymous attacked PayPal, as well as other businesses seen as "anti-Wikileaks, including MasterCard, Sarah Palin, and Amazon.

Now supporters of U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, the alleged source of the U.S. diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks, say that the account used to donate to his defense fund has been frozen. The account, known as "Courage to Resist," was being run in conjunction with the "Bradley Manning Support Network." Loraine Reitman of the Network said, "We've been in discussions with PayPal for weeks, and by their own admission there's no legal obligation for them to close down our account. This was an internal policy decision by PayPal."

Manning has been detained by the U.S. military in solitary confinement since June of 2010. His supporters have alleged that his detainment conditions are "inhumane" and that punitive measures are being taken against him. The military strongly denies any wrongdoing.

UPDATE:

Paypal has responded to the situation with the Bradley Manning account. Anuj Nayar, PayPal's driector of communications, released the following statement:

While it is generally not our policy to comment publicly on account dealings, we are sharing the following statement to clarify information regarding the Courage To Resist organization's PayPal account and their claim that this is somehow associated with their support of U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning. Let me be clear, this decision had nothing to do with WikiLeaks.

We recently placed a temporary limitation of the Courage to Resist organization's PayPal account as they had not complied to our stated policy requiring non profits to associate a bank account with their PayPal account (for the vast majority of non-profits, this is not an issue).

In a press release issued today, the Courage to Resist organization claimed that their resistance to follow our policy is because PayPal sought to withdraw funds from their checking account. To be clear: PayPal cannot take such action without the authorization of an account holder, nor does it ever take such unauthorized actions.

Upon review, and as part of our normal business procedures, we have decided to lift the temporary restriction placed on their account because we have sufficient information to meet our statutory 'Know Your Customer' obligations. The Courage to Resist PayPal account is now fully operational.

Comments

[Contessa Mia]

12:34 PM on 03/11/2011

Once upon a time, a few years ago, PayPal stole from me, a small amount, but it was MINE.

I don't do business with them, and certainly appreciate it when there is a choice of pay options.

As for PayPal's owner, Whitman, I think she should lose all income, be forced to work as a nanny, and be punched by her employers!

PayPal STINKS!

[hastrow]

10:27 AM on 03/05/2011

From the story, the World According To Paypal:
"In a press release issued today, the Courage to Resist organization claimed that their resistance to follow our policy is because PayPal sought to withdraw funds from their checking account. To be clear: PayPal cannot take such action without the authorization of an account holder, nor does it ever take such unauthorized actions."

The Real World:
Paypal has for years maintained a sort of in absentia court system of its own, separate from law, banking regulation, or the Uniform Commercial Code. Merchants or non-profits operating through Paypal can and do randomly receive emails saying that their account or a particular transaction is "being reviewed" for reasons that are not clear. Then a sum of money -- or all of the account -- is frozen, "disappeared" into "charges", or returned to the customer or donor, with little or no recourse for the merchant or non-profit.

This happens a lot more often to organizations that are rash enough to maintan a large balance at Paypal. Money should be withdrawn regularly, and then removed from the account it was transfered to, so PP can't "dip your account." Also there should always be a Plan B in effect, so that a website can immediately be pointed to an alternate payment processor.

[Deep Thought]

06:20 PM on 03/04/2011

boycott pay pal

[me again]

08:56 AM on 02/27/2011

Manning is a coward. As a soldier, his actions were treasonous.

[Hesca419]

07:44 PM on 03/02/2011

Treason? Can't deny it. Cowardice? Saying it won't make it true. He faced the enemy even after he realized the enemy is us. He's still doing it.

[Neil Bolton]

07:23 PM on 02/25/2011

If Manning was the source for the Collateral Murder video and Cablegatehe has done the world a great service, while knowing that he would probably go to jail for the rest of his life. Would you have had the guts? I wouldn't have.)

If anyone would like Assange's take on whether WikiLeaks had anything to do with Tunisia and Egypt, go to http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/story/webextra/id/600911/n/Assange-Speaks
Warning: If you are anti-Assange and want to maintain your position in ignorance, do not view this.

In it Assange sets out why Wikileaks MAY have assisted in the Tunisian revolution. Please note he does not claim that WikiLeaks did it - that's others putting words in his mouth in order to paint him as a megalomaniac or ego tripper.)

Summary: Cablegate revealed to the public (remember: other governments know all this stuff already - that's why thave intelligence departments, and if Brad can get to them then the profesionals certainly can!) that America was unlikely to support Ben Ali against the Tunisian military. And not only the Tunisian people read this - the public in neighbouring countries did as well.

[1000daysoframen]

06:11 PM on 02/25/2011

you would think hufpo would change the title since paypal reinstated their account

[Neil Bolton]

07:09 PM on 02/25/2011

Why? That's what happened.

[dlbnext]

11:11 AM on 02/25/2011

I am totally against pay-pal censors, but let's be honest, and look at at HP censors.

[Indigo1941]

05:19 PM on 02/25/2011

Can't be done, HP censors are anonymous.

[greysells2]

11:12 PM on 02/25/2011

HP moderators might be silly and/or make mistakes but they are not mean or bigoted. I have never had trouble with them personally. Slander, libel, ad hominem agruements and crudity seem to be what they are most likely to mark. If you get cuaght, rework it and resubmit.

[dlbnext]

11:10 AM on 02/25/2011

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julian-Assange-for-President-of-the-United-States/150589128288669

[dlbnext]

11:02 AM on 02/25/2011

Wikileaks' Julian Assange calls for Obama to step down

[dlbnext]

10:59 AM on 02/25/2011

http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/julian_assange_.jpg

[AZreb]

09:02 AM on 02/25/2011

So now all the State Department has to do is say something is "illegal" and that makes it so! No trial, no witnesses, no proof - just on the say-so of the State Department.

Who will be next to feel the heavy hand of government? Will it be an animal-rights group? A community service group? A religious group? The Libertarian or Green Party? The atheists or agnostics? The unions?


If the State Department can stop donations through PayPal for Manning, they can do it for any other person or entity they deem "illegal" without showing proof of illegal actions.

Here we have protestors in the Middle East fighting for freedoms, civil and human rights and we have our own government taking those freedoms, cvil and human rights from us at will.

[Neil Bolton]

07:12 PM on 02/25/2011

You haven't had these rights for years. It's just that they're getting exposed now. Wikileaks is a part of it, but the big driver is the Internet. The invention of the printing press was a tipping point, so is the Internet.

[Contessa Mia]

01:14 PM on 03/11/2011

The internet is the greatest marvel of our time, so far; A thing happens, real time. A camera or a camera-phone is in the area. And the world knows, very nearly real time. I am awed by its magnificence!

[Michael Ludin]

08:37 AM on 02/25/2011

Geez, they are lucky to get through to PAYPAL, what is the phone number?

[Neil Bolton]

08:32 AM on 02/25/2011

It's good to remember why the people in power are annoyed with the leaks. But it has nothing to do with foreign governments getting their hands on the information.

Every significant nation has spooks whose sole job it is to grab this stuff. Most of these chappies (and ladies) have been embedded for years, generally more than ten years.

Does anyone honestly believe that if an army private could get this stuff almost accidentally then the professionals hadn't already got it? It is beyond belief to imagine that.

No, the people that the government don't want to know about this stuff is . . . You. The public.

And the mainstream media is totally complicit in this. Check Bill Keller explaining to an incredulous English interviewer that asking the government what the NYT should publish, and then doing the government's bidding, is perfectly good journalism.

If the mainstream media were doing their job there would be no need for WikiLeaks.

[greysells2]

07:29 AM on 02/25/2011

Is Pay Pal a financial service or a political arm of the US government? They could have refused the "pressure" put upon them by the State Department[?]. Unless they were threatened. If threatened what would that threat be? I don't have a Pay Pal account and I wouldn't get one, especially now. Every person has a choice who they do business with. Anyone can exercise that choice whenever they want. consider pulling out of PayPal

[Sock De Jour]

03:07 PM on 02/25/2011

You've got to understand paypal and it's background.

Several years ago paypal was a great organization. Not after ebay (think Meg Whitman [R]) bought it and took it over.

Paypal actually have an elaborate_scam_going, and here's some of what they do: They routinely and randomly freeze the accounts of ordinary people with decent balances, in order to use the money to gain short term interests. Here are some of the excuses they use... the account has had a security issue, or the account has had unusual activity, or the account needs updating. If you can't supply the documents and proof they demand, they won't release your funds.

Think about this... Millions of dollars of funds in paypal accounts held by people all over the world, that they don't have access to, for months. Paypal is making money from doing this, and since they aren't a bank, they don't have to follow the FDIC regulations.

Congress needs to do something about paypal, because they are a predatory organization that uses fake security issues in order to make money by delaying people transferring funds out of paypal, into their own bank accounts.

[greysells2]

11:08 PM on 02/25/2011

Then, Congress, scam or no scam, will never do anything as long as PayPal plays footsie with the US Govt. Why would the PayPal bite the hand that feeds them?