PayPal to Fine Gambling, Porn Sites

PayPal, the eBay-owned online payment provider, plans to levy fines
of up to $500 for users who violate its acceptable use policy regarding
adult content and services, prescription drugs and gambling.

Effective September 24, PayPal’s compliance team will strictly
enforce the new acceptable use policy to implement the monetary fines on
Web site owners who use PayPal to collect payment for illegal services.

PayPal also warned that it “may take legal action to recover losses
in excess of the fines.”

PayPal spokesperson Amanda Pires told internetnews.com the
move is part of the company’s mission to stamp out online fraud and
scams targeting PayPal users.

“There is a business risk associated with those categories, and we are
moving to protecting our users,” Pires said.

Previously, users who violated the company’s acceptable use policy
ran the risk of having the accounts limited or closed. PayPal is
hoping that the threat of a monetary fine will serve as a deterrent to
sellers involved in those three categories.

According to the policy posted
online, the Mature Audiences category describes any material or
services suggesting sexual activity or any material or services designed
to sexually arouse the viewer or reader.

Non-adult services whose Web site marketing can be reasonably
misconstrued as allowing adult material or services to be purchased
using PayPal are also banned from using PayPal.

Prior to its October 2002 acquisition
by eBay, PayPal collected about 10 percent of its revenues from adult
and gambling sites, but this was discontinued
in 2003.

PayPal’s exit from the porn market segment followed pressure on eBay
to shut down the gaming business under the Patriot
Act.

“The regulatory environment for the gaming business is just too
challenging…And the adult market has extremely high rates of fraud,”
eBay spokesman Chris Donlay said at the time.