4 ms·

For The Moment, Visa And MasterCard Reopen Payments To WikiLeaks

82 points by there 15y ago

nextparadigms 15y ago
I don't know if they did this to try and settle with Wikileaks/Datacell, but they are basically admitting they are guilty for blockading Wikileaks. If Wikileaks and Datacell can afford it, they should continue with the lawsuit to set an example out of them. The move from today is going to score points in Wikileaks' favor in the court.
- pyre 15y ago
  Per http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2740430 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2740430, it looks like maybe a payment processor is somehow accepting transactions that Visa/MasterCard don't want them to allow.
there 15y ago
maybe not: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/07/visa-says-its-still-not-processing-transactions-wikileaks/39705/ http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/07/visa-says-...
redthrowaway 15y ago
Fishy. I don't trust them at all. I wouldn't be surprised if this was done at the request of the DoJ/State Dept., and they'd agreed to provide details on donors. It simply is not in the nature of companies like this to say, "sorry guys, our bad. No hard feelings?"
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
- maeon3 15y ago
  Maybe some hackers can get into Visa and Mastercard and plant something unflattering information, (like big monetary donations to al-queda with trail of evidences leading back to the CEO) so that the government has to launch an investigation and seize Visa and Mastercard's profits. Give them a taste of their own medicine.
  - suking 15y ago
    I'm crackin' up, where did you come up with this idea?
TechnoFou 15y ago
After all that everything that happened I am not sure it is such a great idea. If Sony can get into everyone's personal info with pressure just because some people shared a console jailbreak, imagine what can a government do to pressure some credit card companies with an international whitsleblower website.
- deleted 15y ago
  [deleted]
Sigi 15y ago
Wow. They've finally decided to act like the gateway they're supposed to be and will allow me to pay who I want? That's rich.

82 points by there 15y ago

I don't know if they did this to try and settle with Wikileaks/Datacell, but they are basically admitting they are guilty for blockading Wikileaks. If Wikileaks and Datacell can afford it, they should continue with the lawsuit to set an example out of them. The move from today is going to score points in Wikileaks' favor in the court.

pyre 15y ago
Per http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2740430 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2740430, it looks like maybe a payment processor is somehow accepting transactions that Visa/MasterCard don't want them to allow.

there 15y ago

maybe not: http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/07/visa-says-its-still-not-processing-transactions-wikileaks/39705/ http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2011/07/visa-says-...

redthrowaway 15y ago

Fishy. I don't trust them at all. I wouldn't be surprised if this was done at the request of the DoJ/State Dept., and they'd agreed to provide details on donors. It simply is not in the nature of companies like this to say, "sorry guys, our bad. No hard feelings?"

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]
maeon3 15y ago
Maybe some hackers can get into Visa and Mastercard and plant something unflattering information, (like big monetary donations to al-queda with trail of evidences leading back to the CEO) so that the government has to launch an investigation and seize Visa and Mastercard's profits. Give them a taste of their own medicine.
- suking 15y ago
  I'm crackin' up, where did you come up with this idea?

TechnoFou 15y ago

After all that everything that happened I am not sure it is such a great idea. If Sony can get into everyone's personal info with pressure just because some people shared a console jailbreak, imagine what can a government do to pressure some credit card companies with an international whitsleblower website.

deleted 15y ago
[deleted]

Sigi 15y ago

Wow. They've finally decided to act like the gateway they're supposed to be and will allow me to pay who I want? That's rich.