PayPal Terminates Accounts of Independent News Outlets Consortium News and Mint Press News
In 2022, PayPal terminated the accounts of independent news organizations Consortium News and Mint Press News, freezing their funds with little clarification. Founded by Robert Parry in 1995, Consortium News had $9,000 frozen after its account was shut down in May 2022, a move connected to its critical reporting on the Ukraine conflict. Although the account was briefly reinstated, it was permanently banned shortly thereafter. Mint Press News, established by Mnar Adley in 2012, saw its account closed in April 2022, along with the personal account of senior writer Alan MacLeod. The backlash against PayPal's updated Acceptable Use Policy in October 2022, which banned 'misinformation,' led to its retraction, raising alarms about press freedom and the power of financial intermediaries over dissenting voices.
Key facts
- PayPal closed Consortium News's account in May 2022, freezing $9,000.
- Consortium News was founded in 1995 by Robert Parry, known for Iran-Contra reporting.
- Editor Joe Lauria linked the closure to Ukraine war coverage critical of U.S. involvement.
- Mint Press News lost its PayPal account in April 2022, along with writer Alan MacLeod's personal account.
- PayPal's October 2022 policy update prohibited 'misinformation' with $2,500 fines, later retracted.
- Former PayPal president David Marcus publicly criticized the policy on Twitter.
- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression warned of chilling effects on speech.
- Neither outlet received detailed explanations for the account terminations.
Entities
Artists
- Joe Lauria
- Robert Parry
- Caitlin Johnstone
- Matt Taibbi
- Kim Iversen
- Mnar Adley
- Alan MacLeod
- David Marcus
- Aaron Terr
- Barack Obama
- Volodymyr Zelensky
Institutions
- PayPal
- Consortium News
- Mint Press News
- Boston Globe
- Wall Street Journal
- Democracy Now!
- The Hill
- KCRW
- Scheer Intelligence
- Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
- Axios
- Beacon Press
- Washington Post
- New York Times
- CNN
- Fox News
Locations
- United States
- Ukraine
- Odessa
- Minnesota
- Jerusalem
- Israel
- Syria
- Ghouta
- Germany