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WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) — House Republicans sent a letter to PayPal CEO Dan Schulman Tuesday requesting information dealing with the company’s now-retracted misinformation policy, which if implemented would have fined users $2,500 for promoting “misinformation.” 

The letter, sent to Schulman following a briefing given to the Republican staff of the House Energy and Commerce and Financial Service Committees, asks the CEO fifteen questions related to the now-canceled change to PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) announced earlier this month.

Among the questions raised by the congressmen include who drafted the policy, whether PayPal approved the policy, whether PayPal users were affected by the policy, and if PayPal was in contact with the Biden administration about the policy. 

“As a leading financial technology company, it is concerning that a user agreement that contemplates the restriction of free speech was uploaded and disseminated to PayPal users – even if in error,” the letter states. “We understand your company is currently investigating this matter. Upon the conclusion of your investigation, we request that you provide a briefing for the Committees as soon as practicable.” 

The congressmen have asked PayPal to submit responses to their questions no later than October 27.

Signers of the letter include Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Cathy McMorris Rogers of Washington, ranking Republican on the Financial Services Committee. 

According to the policy, PayPal users would have had to pay $2,500 for sending or receiving transactions which the company considered to be promoting “misinformation,” presenting a “risk to user safety,” were “objectionable,” or were “otherwise unfit for publication.” 

While PayPal ultimately retracted the policy the day it was announced following severe backlash, the policy was slated to go into effect on November 3, just days before the midterm elections, and would have allowed the company to issue the charges based on its sole discretion.

PayPal, which says it is conducting an investigation into the matter, told FOX Business through a spokesperson that the policy was sent out in “error.”

An AUP notice recently went out in error that included incorrect information … PayPal is not fining people for misinformation and this language was never intended to be inserted in our policy,” the spokesperson told the outlet. 

PayPal has a history of promoting the LGBT agenda and censoring conservative organizations and users who oppose COVID-19 mandates. 

In 2020, the company added its name to a letter threatening to cut ties with states that pursue policies at odds with transgender ideology, also joining the left-wing Anti-Defamation League (ADL) the following year to track payments of alleged right-wing “extremism” groups. 

PayPal made headlines more recently for putting a hold on donations and funds for a group of conservative mothers, before reversing itself under pressure from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. 

Under PayPal’s current AUP, users can still be fined $2,500 if the company deems any transactions made through the platform involve or are related to intolerance that is discriminatory,” “the promotion of hate,” and “items that are considered obscene.” 

PayPal is not the only Big Tech company to come under scrutiny over a so-called misinformation policy.  

A lawsuit filed by Missouri and Louisiana Attorneys General Eric Schmitt and Jeff Landry in conjunction with the New Civil Liberties Alliance found documents during discovery that allegedly show that Biden administration officials met with with Big Tech executives to discuss censorship of “misinformation.” 

In August, emails obtained by America First Legal (AFL) as a result of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request showed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also worked with social media companies to censor what the agency considered “misinformation” about the COVID jabs.

LifeSiteNews reached out to PayPal for comment but did not receive a reply prior to publication. 

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