PayPal says policy to fine customers for 'misinformation' was an 'error'

PayPal Holdings said on Monday (Oct 10) it will not fine users for misinformation and an earlier policy update that said customers could have to pay US$2,500 in damages was sent in error.

Shares of the San Jose, California-based company were down nearly 6 per cent after the update, which PayPal said "included incorrect information", sparked intense backlash on social media over the weekend.

"PayPal is not fining people for misinformation and this language was never intended to be inserted in our policy. We're sorry for the confusion this has caused," a spokesperson for the company said.

According to several media reports last week, PayPal had published a policy update prohibiting customers from using its services for activities identified by it as "sending, posting, or publication of any messages, content, or materials" promoting misinformation.

The new policy, which said customers could have to pay damages of US$2,500 for each violation, was supposed to go into effect on Nov 3, the reports said.

PayPal's former president David Marcus slammed the policy in a tweet on Saturday, saying the new policy "goes against everything I believe in".

"A private company now gets to decide to take your money if you say something they disagree with. Insanity" Marcus tweeted.

Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla Inc chief who co-founded PayPal, tweeted "Agreed", replying to Marcus's tweet.

PayPal's clarification was earlier reported by Bloomberg News.