Is PayPal ethical?

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Corporate conduct Allegation

PayPal is accused of defrauding Merchants through cookie stuffing

PayPal is accused of defrauding Merchants through cookie stuffing by surreptitiously redirecting Affiliate Commissions rightfully owed to Plaintiffs under the contracts.

1 sourceRead sources
courthousenews.com
Plaintiffs allege that PayPal through Honey has intentionally interfered with their contractual relationships with Merchants and Affiliate Networks and has surreptitiously redirected for itself Affiliate Commissions rightfully owed to Plaintiffs under the contracts by “cookie stuffing,” i.e., defrauding Merchants and Affiliate Networks to receive credit for purchases for which it did not actively perform any marketing as set forth by the parties’ contracts.

Privacy & surveillance Settlement

PayPal settles over Venmo privacy and transfer misrepresentations

The Federal Trade Commission approved a settlement with PayPal over allegations that Venmo misled consumers about transferring funds to bank accounts and controlling transaction privacy.

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ftc.gov
PRESS RELEASE: PayPal Settles FTC Charges that Venmo Failed to Disclose Information to Consumers About the Ability to Transfer Funds and Privacy Settings; Violated Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
ftc.gov
The Federal Trade Commission has reached a settlement with PayPal, Inc. over allegations that the company told users of its Venmo peer-to-peer payment service that money credited to their Venmo balances could be transferred to external bank accounts without adequately disclosing that the transactions were still subject to review and that funds could be frozen or removed.
PayPal Settles FTC Charges that Venmo Failed to Disclose Information to Consumers About the Ability to Transfer Funds and Privacy Settings; Violated Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act | Federal Trade Commission
PayPal Settles FTC Charges that Venmo Failed to Disclose Information to Consumers About the Ability to Transfer Funds and Privacy Settings; Violated Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
ftc.gov
PayPal Settles FTC Charges that Venmo Failed to Disclose Information to Consumers About the Ability to Transfer Funds and Privacy Settings; Violated Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
The Federal Trade Commission has given final approval to a settlement with PayPal, Inc. over allegations that its Venmo peer-to-peer payment service misled consumers about their ability to transfer funds to external bank accounts and control the privacy of their Venmo transactions.

Privacy & surveillance Settlement

PayPal settles for $1.75 million over deceptive practices

New Hampshire Attorney General Formella announced a $1.75 million settlement with PayPal over unfair and deceptive consumer practices.

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banking.nh.gov
New Hampshire Attorney General Formella announces $1.75 million relief settlement with PayPal concerning unfair and deceptive practices
“Today’s settlement with PayPal sends a strong message that companies who encourage consumers to trust them with their financial resources must be transparent regarding the ability of its customers to freely access their funds,” said Attorney General Formella.
New Hampshire Attorney General Formella announces $1.75 million relief settlement with PayPal concerning unfair and deceptive practices | New Hampshire Banking Department
doj.nh.gov
Attorney General Formella Announces $1.75 Million and Injunctive Relief Settlement with PayPal, Inc. and PayPal Holdings, Inc. Concerning Unfair and Deceptive Practices | New Hampshire Department of Justice
“Today’s settlement with PayPal sends a strong message that companies who encourage consumers to trust them with their financial resources must be transparent regarding the ability of its customers to freely access their funds,” said Attorney General Formella.
A New Hampshire Department of Justice investigation raised serious concerns that PayPal had violated New Hampshire’s consumer protection laws by, among other things:
Attorney General Formella Announces $1.75 Million and Injunctive Relief Settlement with PayPal, Inc. and PayPal Holdings, Inc. Concerning Unfair and Deceptive Practices
yahoo.com
The Department of Justice found that PayPal used deceptive advertising on being able to use funds anytime, imposing hurdles for "purchase protection" and implementing inadequate disclosures regarding the privacy of Venmo users' sensitive financial information, according to a news release.
The New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office reached a $1.75 million settlement with PayPal over unfair and deceptive practices, requiring significant changes to be made by both PayPal and Venmo.
The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office negotiated with PayPal, an e-payment platform, a $1.75 million injunctive relief settlement concerning unfair and deceptive practices, the office said Tuesday.

Corporate conduct Settlement

PayPal will pay $6 million to the Hawaiʻi Office of Consumer Protection to resolve a lawsuit alleging consumer-protection violations

PayPal has denied the claims, but will pay $6 million to OCP to resolve the lawsuit.

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cca.hawaii.gov
RELEASE: HAWAIʻI OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ANNOUNCES $6 MILLION SETTLEMENT WITH PAYPAL - DCCA Hawaii
PayPal has denied the claims, but will pay $6 million to OCP to resolve the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleged violations of Hawaiʻi’s consumer protection laws, including that, to encourage consumers to make and receive payments on PayPal and Venmo, PayPal deceptively advertises that it provides broad “Purchase Protection” for goods-and-services transactions on Venmo, privacy for Venmo users’ sensitive financial information, consistent and easy access to funds, and platforms safe from scams and fraud.
HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection (OCP), on behalf of the state of Hawaiʻi, announced today a settlement with PayPal, Inc. and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (PayPal).
The settlement resolves OCP’s lawsuit, filed in December 2022, alleging unfair and deceptive acts or practices through PayPal’s operation of the PayPal and Venmo e-payment platforms.
sec.gov
On December 20, 2022, a civil lawsuit captioned State of Hawai‘i, by its Office of Consumer Protection, v. PayPal, Inc., and PayPal Holdings, Inc., Case No. 1CCV-22-0001610, was filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit of the State of Hawai‘i (the “Hawai‘i Action”).
sec.gov
On December 20, 2022, a civil lawsuit captioned State of Hawai‘i, by its Office of Consumer Protection, v. PayPal, Inc., and PayPal Holdings, Inc., Case No. 1CCV-22-0001610, was filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit of the State of Hawai‘i (the “Hawai‘i Action”).
sec.gov
PayPal, Inc., and PayPal Holdings, Inc., Case No. 1CCV-22-0001610, was filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit of the State of Hawai‘i (the “Hawai‘i Action”). The Hawai‘i Action asserts claims for unfair and deceptive acts and practices under Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Sections 480-2(a) and 481A-3(a). Plaintiff seeks injunctive relief as well as unspecified penalties and other monetary relief. On July 14, 2023, the court denied Defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint.
On December 20, 2022, a civil lawsuit captioned State of Hawai‘i, by its Office of Consumer Protection, v. PayPal, Inc., and PayPal Holdings, Inc., Case No. 1CCV-22-0001610, was filed in the Circuit Court of the First Circuit of the State of Hawai‘i (the “Hawai‘i Action”).

Workplace equity Allegation

Desai sued PayPal over allegations of racial bias in its investment program

The allegation involving PayPal concerns race and ethnicity.

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finance.yahoo.com
She said PayPal has told multiple other businesswomen they were ineligible for funding because of their Asian descent.
She is seeking unspecified damages and to ban PayPal from considering race and ethnicity in its investment program.
PayPal accused of racial bias against Asian Americans in funding program
finance.yahoo.com
PayPal is being sued by the founder of venture firm Andav Capital, Nisha Desai, who claims she was excluded from the payment giant's diversity and equity program because she is Asian, according to a suit filed this week.
nypost.com
She is seeking unspecified damages and to ban PayPal from considering race and ethnicity in its investment program.
PayPal accused of racial bias against Asian Americans in funding program

Corporate conduct Confirmed

Bloggers sue PayPal over alleged enrichment

Bloggers and influencers file a class action alleging unjust enrichment and interference with PayPal and its Honey browser extension.

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courthousenews.com
In a consolidated class action, bloggers and influencers bring claims of unjust enrichment, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage and intentional interference of contractual relations against PayPal and its Honey browser extension.

Workplace equity Settlement

PayPal settles DOJ over 2020 investment program

PayPal settled a DOJ investigation over a 2020 program that guaranteed $530 million for Black and minority-owned businesses.

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fortune.com
The settlement resolves a DOJ investigation into PayPal over a 2020 program that guaranteed a $530 million investment for Black and minority-owned businesses.

Speech & moderation Confirmed

PayPal bans Gays Against Groomers for political commentary

PayPal banned Gays Against Groomers, an LGBT group, for political commentary deemed right-wing.

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thenationaldesk.com
PayPal's Acceptable Use Policy says its services cannot be used for activities that promote "hate, violence, racial or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory," "items that are considered obscene," or "certain sexually-oriented materials or services."
foxnews.com
Numerous users have said PayPal temporarily suspended their accounts over their content, resulting in lost income, McSherry told Fox News.
yahoo.com
In recent years, PayPal has been known to censor or deplatform organizations or individuals for certain political commentary, particularly that which is considered right-wing. It recently banned Gays Against Groomers, a group composed of LGBT-identifying people that claims to call attention to the sexualization and medicalization of children via gender ideology and the transgender movement.

Corporate conduct Confirmed

PayPal withdraws 2027 financial targets

PayPal withdrew its 2027 long term financial targets following an announcement of disappointing financial results.

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finance.yahoo.com
The actions follow PayPal's announcement of disappointing financial results and the withdrawal of its 2027 long term financial targets.

Privacy & surveillance Settlement

PayPal settles for $2 million fine

PayPal pays a $2 million fine as part of a settlement.

3 sourcesRead sources
bleepingcomputer.com
"Customer data was exposed after PayPal implemented changes to existing data flows to make IRS Form 1099-Ks available to more of its customers," explains DFS.
Following the faulty implementation, cybercriminals holding valid credentials for PayPal accounts were able to access those accounts and their 1099-K forms, which revealed a lot of sensitive information.
The settlement terms mandate that PayPal must pay a fine of $2 million within 10 days, while no further action will be taken unless New York's DFS discovers new violations.
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) action says that threat actors took advantage of security gaps in PayPal's systems to conduct credential stuffing attacks that provided access to sensitive customer information.
dfs.ny.gov
Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris Secures $2 Million Cybersecurity Settlement with PayPal, Inc. | Department of Financial Services
(PayPal) will pay a $2 million penalty to New York State for violations of DFS’s Cybersecurity Regulation.
Customer data was exposed after PayPal implemented changes to existing data flows to make IRS Form 1099-Ks available to more of its customers.
doj.nh.gov
deceptively advertising that customers would be able to access their funds anytime when in fact, many consumers reported difficulty in doing so when PayPal wrongfully froze their accounts;