Left-Wing 'Deplatform Hate' Threatens Payment Processor Stripe over Terms of Service

Deplatform Hate, a far-left Twitter account, seemed to blackmail Big Tech payment processing service Stripe on Saturday, threatening the company unless it changed its terms of service to the account’s liking, and posting messages with Stripe’ General Counsel showing the two parties discussing the blacklisting of free speech social network Gab.

Deplatform Hate claimed it would release all communications with the company unless it changed its terms of service to the account’s liking — which would most likely be aimed at removing more conservatives from utilizing the payment processor’s services.

“We’re releasing all comms with @stripe, and [Stripe general counsel Jon Zieger] Tuesday unless they make a statement changing their terms of service,” warned the account. “They have several violent orgs they’re supporting and blood will be on their hands again.”

The account also released several friendly messages with Stripe general counsel Jon Zieger, showing Zieger and Deplatform Hate talking about blacklisting Gab (which was recently banned from the service), and revealing Zieger’s interest in further talking to Deplatform Hate via a phone call.

“I’d be interested in learning more about your concerns and how you think we can do better,” declared Zieger in one message to Deplatform Hate. “Would you have any time for a phone call in the next few days?”

In another message, Deplatform Hate wrote to Zieger, “Good call on gab… You dropping them was a big precondition of chatting. If this was goodwill I can meet you halfway and chat. Goodwill on my side is that there’s going to be two more big hits this October you should know about.”

“I’d be happy to chat and would certainly appreciate the heads up,” replied Zieger. “Let me know what would be a good way to connect.” The exchange did not clarify what the two “big hits” Deplatform Hate referred to are.

Shortly after making the posts, Deplatform Hate set its account to private, however, despite the clear evidence of a threat, Twitter has yet to suspend the account.

“This is remarkable. Actual back channel chats about deplatforming Gab from @Stripe,” posted alternative video hosting platform BitChute in response.

“This proves Stripe/PayPal aren’t acting independently. There’s outside political pressure that clouds reality about what the public wants,” declared journalist Nick Monroe. “This is political manipulation.”

Deplatform Hate has been promoted by Antifa, Gizmodo Media’s Splinter News, HuffPost, Think Progress, and left-wing advocacy and boycott group Sleeping Giants — who described the account’s “work” as “amazing.”

Stripe, which is used as the foundation for most online payment processing, has repeatedly blacklisted conservatives and libertarians including Lauren Southern and Chuck Johnson, and in July, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a liberal non-profit organization, warned the public that online payment processors such as Stripe are becoming “de facto internet censors.”