# PayPal Rules -- Like Calvinball, But Less Predictable **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 1, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094 "2014-07-01T14:31:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094/1 "2014-07-01T14:31:33Z")
Their latest [arbitrary-shutdown stunt](http://www.zdnet.com/paypal-freezes-out-protonmail-asks-if-startup-has-government-permission-to-encrypt-email-7000031116/): > [@](#): > > PayPal has frozen the account of security startup ProtonMail, and has questioned whether the firm is legal — and has “government approval” to encrypt emailed communication. WTF? Are they now suggesting that all business accounts must have “government approval” in advance, or is this just the first line of (procto)logical(ly extricated) response they came up with when called on their BS? ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094/2 "2014-07-01T19:47:11Z")
Just came in here to applaud your subject line. Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094/3 "2014-07-01T19:57:22Z")
I don’t get it. What do they expect to do with this action? Do they think they are trying to prevent ‘terrorism’? Do they just hate crowdsourcing? Or do they need the money, and are stealing it? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094/4 "2014-07-01T20:43:58Z")
According to the update on your link, PayPal has now backed down and the restriction was lifted. I like to think your post was the cause of their backtracking. > [@](#): > > PayPal recently made changes to the way it handled accounts of people who were using crowdfunding sites to support their ideas. In response to customer feedback we established a streamlined process to specifically support crowdfunding campaigns. This process involves engaging crowdfunding campaign owners early on to clearly understand their campaign goals and help them ensure their campaigns are compliant with our policies and government regulations. > > In the case of ProtonMail, a technical problem this week resulted in PayPal applying restrictions to the account. We have contacted ProtonMail today to solve this and can confirm that ProtonMail is able to receive or send funds through PayPal again. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. A “technical problem.” Uh, right. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094/5 "2014-07-01T22:44:11Z")
Well, at least if they follow Calvinball rules, they’ll never be able to do this again - can’t play the same way twice. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094/6 "2014-07-01T22:51:49Z")
And ProtonMail wins with a final score of Q to 12. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094/7 "2014-07-02T09:48:10Z")
I have heard of book sellers getting their accounts frozen and even fined $500, reason? The anti-pornography clause, and they were applying it to art books or written material. It was apparently someone reporting their store to paypal to be a nuisance. Basically of you are small fry Paypal will find a clause to shut you down, do you sell a licit item that can be considered drug paraphernalia? The reasons they can freeze your account are lengthy, read the contract and either be big enough or fly under the radar. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2014, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paypal-rules-like-calvinball-but-less-predictable/692094/8 "2014-07-02T10:19:01Z")
Paypal is scum. I really wish that there was a middle ground between censor-happy puritans like Paypal and the utter mediocrity of Bitcoin - a Swiss bank account for the internet, which was happy with their 3% cut instead of also wanting to use their position to cleanse the internet of undesirables.