Naked Canadians Consider Class Action Lawsuit Against Paypal
Today a group of naked Canadians are considering a class action lawsuit against PayPal. The Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN) -- an organization for Canadian nudists-- claims that PayPal suddenly cut off its services to them, refusing to process their magazine subscription payments after four years of business.
The FCN are not the first business to get denied services for supposedly breaking the acceptable use policy. Since 2003, PayPal has excluded so called "sexually oriented Web sites" from using their services for the purchase of digital goods like membership or subscription fees. However, any Web site is allowed to use PayPal for the sale of sexually oriented physical goods, like DVDs or magazines that are then delivered by hand to the customer. PayPal claims this is due to the immense administrative cost of doing business with an industry riddled with criminal schemes and frequent "charge backs" (when a customer disputes a charge to their paypal account.) In addition to this discrepancy between physical and digital goods, PayPal further reserves the right to deny Web sites that are distributing sexually oriented material involving minors or for Web sites that "facilitate meetings for sexually oriented activities." These two lines from the Mature Audiences section of their Acceptable Use Policy are what PayPal claims the FCN has violated.
While the nudists object to being considered sexually oriented in the first place, the government affairs director for the federation, Judy Williams, says "PayPal's decision about Going Natural and its claims about the FCN are unfounded embellishments born of ignorance."
According to the history, naturists base their practice on a nineteenth-century reform movement that believed the cure for the ailments of industrial society "was exposure to the natural healing elements or fresh air, sunlight, and water--preferably with loose or absent clothing." In addition, they don't believe that the naked body is inherently erotic, which anyone who has been to a nude beach can attest to. While the images in Going Natural magazine might include pictures of naked minors, a court would probably deem them no more pornographic than those baby pictures of you with a shampoo mohawk.
The last line of the PayPal's Mature audiences policy says that "PayPal will not include sexual preferences or viewpoints as a factor in determining what goods or services are prohibited under the Mature Audiences Policy." We think the FCN might not agree.
Related Links:
- Paypal to Customers Don't Use Safari
- Police Crack Down on Craigslist Sex Industry
- Man Goes to Jail For E-Mailing 15,00 Nude Pics Of His Ex
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kallie @ Apr 7th 2008 2:47PM
Interesting
Mickey @ Apr 7th 2008 3:34PM
I am a nudest and there is nothing wrong with seeing the human body in the flesh. We dress before we leave the beaches. Whats the big deal??
GAG naked Canucks! @ Apr 7th 2008 4:07PM
Seeing that photo made me vomit. God naked Canadians GAG! Freaking flabby pale unwashed uneducated Canucks!
mark @ Apr 7th 2008 4:07PM
again.... It has been my experience that the people you'd like to see nude, "won't". The ones that realy, REALLY need to keep their stuff covered are the first ones to "let it fly"!
CelluliteQueen.com @ Apr 7th 2008 4:13PM
Be happy in the skin you're in!!
www.CelluliteQueen.com
MIKE @ Apr 7th 2008 4:18PM
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Wendy @ Apr 7th 2008 4:19PM
"Whats the big deal??"
Apparently you've never worked at a theater that couldn't show "Alvin and the Chipmunks" (Rated PG)to a group of fifth graders because the parents of two children objected.
funny @ Apr 7th 2008 4:19PM
And just WHERE is this place so I can do my own research??
Robin @ Apr 7th 2008 4:28PM
We don't take off our clothes to "show off" or to get turned on by one another..Mark, maybe someday you'll also learn to be more free and open and to love your body for all the good things it's capable of (I mean, besides sex)!!
Have some fun!
Steve @ Apr 7th 2008 4:37PM
Paypal SUX just like FEE-bay & they have also cut off selling playboy & Penthouse etc as well as mexican & Canadian drug payments. THE NEW NAZIS-EBAY they tell you your morals & what is best for you. I hope the Canadians burn them a new one for discrimination.
Bob @ Apr 7th 2008 4:37PM
So what the Hell is everyone's problem ??
It's the Human Body and we were born naked and we all have human bodies. Some are Hot and some are not. If you wanrt to be a nudist in your nude places, fine. As long as you keep it for those who want to be and keep it discreet That's your choice. Let everyone live the way they want !!
Buffnut @ Apr 7th 2008 5:01PM
O well, what ever blows thier dress up, o, wait I forgot, they arn't wearing any
Dave Tuck @ Apr 7th 2008 5:02PM
Real ignorance is living in Canada and being naked outside at all.
boycottPAYPAL @ Apr 7th 2008 5:19PM
Since WHEN is Paypal the MORAL AUTHORITY of anything but the DOLLAR?
LeeAnn @ Apr 7th 2008 5:28PM
What is the big deal with a Nudist Beach or Nudist Colony? We all have choices and we can choose to belong to that group or not. I personally do not, but I don't understand Pay Pals problem. If it involved pedophiles paying for pics of children, then I would object BIG TIME, but these are adults who chose a different lifestyle. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!
Bill @ Apr 7th 2008 5:35PM
I want to be around when we lose the Victorian attitude that nudity = sex. Grow up people, there is nothing sexual about a nude beach. Wonder if PayPal handles PlayBoy?
Mike @ Apr 7th 2008 5:46PM
As long as you are not being paid to be nude. It's OK.
otrpu @ Apr 7th 2008 5:52PM
We clothe our infants and teach kids to wear clothes. . .who cares about crazy naked Canadians?
Roy @ Apr 7th 2008 5:54PM
The people that run both paypal and Ebay are probably the stupidest people on the planet. They ban things that don't matter and allow things that are truly harmful. Their policies are unequally enforced and allow their admins to harrass anyone at will all the while collecting HUGE FEES for their "service". PayPal and Ebay both suck. I hope these folks win their judgement and stick it to PayPal.
truckerguy @ Apr 7th 2008 5:57PM
why cant they put up a pick of naked girls