PayPal bans Proud Boys, Gavin McInnes, and antifa groups

PayPal isn’t quite done kicking problematic accounts off its platform.

The far-right group known as the Proud Boys and its founder, Gavin McInnes, just had their PayPal accounts cancelled today, Mashable can confirm.

Just 24 hours ago, the online payment processor banned the former leader of the anti-Muslim group English Defence League (EDL), UK far-right provocateur Tommy Robinson from using its platform to raise funds.

Proud Boys and McInnes — also a co-founder of Vice and far-right provocateur right here in the U.S. — are no strangers to being banned from online platforms.

Over the summer, both McInnes and his group found their accounts suspended from Twitter. Just last month, Facebook followed suit, closing their pages and banning them from the platform. Twitter cited a violation of its “policy prohibiting violent extremist groups” whereas Facebook deemed the group a “hate organization” when explaining the reason for the bans.

PayPal also cancelled accounts belonging to groups on the opposite side of the ideological spectrum today as well. Atlanta Antifa, Antifa Sacramento, and Anti-Fascist Network’s PayPal accounts were banned too. 

PayPal had previously banned antifa related accounts from raising money via its platform. Between 2017 and 2018, PayPal cancelled accounts belonging to Antifa Philadelphia, Antifa Arkansas, Belfast Antifa, and Rose City Antifa

Antifa, or antifascists, can usually be found protesting Proud Boys gatherings. In October, one such event was thrust into the national spotlight when Proud Boys attacked antifascists protesting McInnes appearance at the Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan.

A PayPal spokesperson provided Mashable with the following statement 

“Striking the necessary balance between upholding free expression and open dialogue and protecting principles of tolerance, diversity and respect for all people is a challenge that many companies are grappling with today. We work hard to achieve the right balance and to ensure that our decisions are values-driven and not political. We carefully review accounts and take action as appropriate. We do not allow PayPal services to be used to promote hate, violence, or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory.”

It will be interesting to see what online fundraising platforms, if any, both the far-right and antifa groups land.