Trucker GoFundMe (split from: Covid-19 miscellany)

[lpetrich]

Canadian anti-vax truckers has millions in donations blocked by GoFundMe

A prominent fundraising site cut ties with a convoy of Canadian truckers that had descended on their nation’s capital to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and regulations.

GoFundMe blocked the release of almost $10 million in donations to the “Freedom Convoy,” Friday in connection with “the promotion of violence and harassment” in Ottawa.

“We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity,” the website wrote in a statement.

Donors had two weeks to ask for a refund, and the rest of the money the group raised would be allocated to “credible and established charities” chosen by Freedom Convoy organizers, the site said.

Seems to me that the right-wingers will howl over Big-Tech "persecution", even though they loudly claim that anything goes when it's a business that does it.

Elon Musk: GoFundMe 'professional thieves' for withholding $10M from anti-vax rally

 

[Metaphor]

Canadian anti-vax truckers has millions in donations blocked by GoFundMe

A prominent fundraising site cut ties with a convoy of Canadian truckers that had descended on their nation’s capital to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and regulations.

GoFundMe blocked the release of almost $10 million in donations to the “Freedom Convoy,” Friday in connection with “the promotion of violence and harassment” in Ottawa.

“We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity,” the website wrote in a statement.

Donors had two weeks to ask for a refund, and the rest of the money the group raised would be allocated to “credible and established charities” chosen by Freedom Convoy organizers, the site said.

Seems to me that the right-wingers will howl over Big-Tech "persecution", even though they loudly claim that anything goes when it's a business that does it.

Elon Musk: GoFundMe 'professional thieves' for withholding $10M from anti-vax rally

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

 

[lpetrich]

Ottawa protests: tensions grow as ‘intolerable’ truck blockade paralyzes Canada capital | Canada | The Guardian

US anti-vaccine mandate campaigners aim to mimic Canadian convoy tactic | US news | The Guardian - "American truckers attract thousands on social media for planned convoy protest to Washington DC"

US organizers operating a Facebook group called Convoy to DC 2022 quickly gained more than 100,000 members and announced a convoy next month. But the Facebook group was recently removed by Meta.

“We have removed this group for repeatedly violating our polices around QAnon,” said a spokesperson for Meta, referring to the QAnon conspiracy movement that has sprung up in rightwing circles and often promotes antisemitic tropes.

Rightwingers flock to 'alt tech' networks as mainstream sites ban Trump | Donald Trump | The Guardian - "App stores’ top downloads feature social media platforms pitched to Trump supporters or offering encryption"

They call themselves victims, a supposed no-no among conservatives.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

 

[Metaphor]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

 

[ZiprHead]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

Do you have some proof of this?

 

[Metaphor]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

Do you have some proof of this?

Eh? That's what the controversy is about. GoFundMe released $1m of the donated funds and then decided the other $9m would not be released to the convoy.

Freedom Convoy: GoFundMe seizes funds of Canada 'occupation'

The crowdfunding website cites reports of "unlawful activity", a claim rejected by protest organisers.

www.bbc.com

 

[ZiprHead]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

Do you have some proof of this?

Eh? That's what the controversy is about. GoFundMe released $1m of the donated funds and then decided the other $9m would not be released to the convoy.

Freedom Convoy: GoFundMe seizes funds of Canada 'occupation'

The crowdfunding website cites reports of "unlawful activity", a claim rejected by protest organisers.

www.bbc.com

From your link:

In a statement, the crowdfunding website said it would withhold the donations already made, and refund donors who fill out a request form.

In a statement on Friday, GoFundMe said the demonstrations were peaceful when the fundraiser first started, but had since violated their terms of service prohibiting the promotion of violence and harassment.
"We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity," GoFundMe said.
The $1m that has already been released will only go to participants who went to Ottawa to peacefully protest, said GoFundMe.
"No further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers - we will work with organisers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities verified by GoFundMe," its statement added.

 

[Metaphor]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

Do you have some proof of this?

Eh? That's what the controversy is about. GoFundMe released $1m of the donated funds and then decided the other $9m would not be released to the convoy.

Freedom Convoy: GoFundMe seizes funds of Canada 'occupation'

The crowdfunding website cites reports of "unlawful activity", a claim rejected by protest organisers.

www.bbc.com

From your link:

In a statement, the crowdfunding website said it would withhold the donations already made, and refund donors who fill out a request form.

In a statement on Friday, GoFundMe said the demonstrations were peaceful when the fundraiser first started, but had since violated their terms of service prohibiting the promotion of violence and harassment.
"We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity," GoFundMe said.
The $1m that has already been released will only go to participants who went to Ottawa to peacefully protest, said GoFundMe.
"No further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers - we will work with organisers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities verified by GoFundMe," its statement added.

Well yes. I don't understand what disagreement you have with what I said?

People donated to the convoy, via GoFundMe, with the understanding that GoFundMe would give the money to the convoy.
GoFundMe gave 1/10 of the total donated funds to the convoy before it decided, unilaterally, that the convoy violated its terms of usage.
It then decided that the remaining $9m would not go to the convoy and GoFundMe would instead disburse it to other charities.

GoFundMe should either have donated the money as per the original understanding to the convoy, or automatically issued refunds without the need for people to apply via a form. Their plan to not automatically refund or give to the convoy was theft.

Thankfully (probably because of the tide of public opinion against them) they decided to automatically refund.

 

[Ruth Harris]

People donated to the convoy, via GoFundMe, with the understanding that GoFundMe would give the money to the convoy.
GoFundMe gave 1/10 of the total donated funds to the convoy before it decided, unilaterally, that the convoy violated its terms of usage.
It then decided that the remaining $9m would not go to the convoy and GoFundMe would instead disburse it to other charities.

GoFundMe should either have donated the money as per the original understanding to the convoy, or automatically issued refunds without the need for people to apply via a form. Their plan to not automatically refund or give to the convoy was theft.

Thankfully (probably because of the tide of public opinion against them) they decided to automatically refund.

For the most part, I agree with Metaphor here. Other instances where GoFundMe has decided that the funds would not be disbursed to the original named recipient have been automatically refunded to the donors. They made a huge mistake in attempting to give the money to other charities as that was not the donor's original intent.

Not sure it should be called theft though. Yes, it was wrong but I don't see the intent to steal here.

Ruth

 

[ZiprHead]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

Do you have some proof of this?

Eh? That's what the controversy is about. GoFundMe released $1m of the donated funds and then decided the other $9m would not be released to the convoy.

Freedom Convoy: GoFundMe seizes funds of Canada 'occupation'

The crowdfunding website cites reports of "unlawful activity", a claim rejected by protest organisers.

www.bbc.com

From your link:

In a statement, the crowdfunding website said it would withhold the donations already made, and refund donors who fill out a request form.

In a statement on Friday, GoFundMe said the demonstrations were peaceful when the fundraiser first started, but had since violated their terms of service prohibiting the promotion of violence and harassment.
"We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity," GoFundMe said.
The $1m that has already been released will only go to participants who went to Ottawa to peacefully protest, said GoFundMe.
"No further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers - we will work with organisers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities verified by GoFundMe," its statement added.

Well yes. I don't understand what disagreement you have with what I said?

People donated to the convoy, via GoFundMe, with the understanding that GoFundMe would give the money to the convoy.
GoFundMe gave 1/10 of the total donated funds to the convoy before it decided, unilaterally, that the convoy violated its terms of usage.
It then decided that the remaining $9m would not go to the convoy and GoFundMe would instead disburse it to other charities and give refunds to anyone that asks for them.

GoFundMe should either have donated the money as per the original understanding to the convoy, or automatically issued refunds without the need for people to apply via a form. Their plan to not automatically refund or give to the convoy was theft.

Thankfully (probably because of the tide of public opinion against them) they decided to automatically refund.

Fixed that for you.

And gofundme doesn't have the money to keep it.

Payment Processor: GoFundMe is not a payment processor and does not hold any funds. Instead, GoFundMe uses third-party payment processing partners to process Donations for a Fundraiser (“Payment Processor”). You acknowledge and agree that the use of Payment Processors are integral to the Services and that we exchange information with Payment Processors in order to facilitate the provision of Services.

 

[Metaphor]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

Do you have some proof of this?

Eh? That's what the controversy is about. GoFundMe released $1m of the donated funds and then decided the other $9m would not be released to the convoy.

Freedom Convoy: GoFundMe seizes funds of Canada 'occupation'

The crowdfunding website cites reports of "unlawful activity", a claim rejected by protest organisers.

www.bbc.com

From your link:

In a statement, the crowdfunding website said it would withhold the donations already made, and refund donors who fill out a request form.

In a statement on Friday, GoFundMe said the demonstrations were peaceful when the fundraiser first started, but had since violated their terms of service prohibiting the promotion of violence and harassment.
"We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity," GoFundMe said.
The $1m that has already been released will only go to participants who went to Ottawa to peacefully protest, said GoFundMe.
"No further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers - we will work with organisers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities verified by GoFundMe," its statement added.

Well yes. I don't understand what disagreement you have with what I said?

People donated to the convoy, via GoFundMe, with the understanding that GoFundMe would give the money to the convoy.
GoFundMe gave 1/10 of the total donated funds to the convoy before it decided, unilaterally, that the convoy violated its terms of usage.
It then decided that the remaining $9m would not go to the convoy and GoFundMe would instead disburse it to other charities and give refunds to anyone that asks for them.

GoFundMe should either have donated the money as per the original understanding to the convoy, or automatically issued refunds without the need for people to apply via a form. Their plan to not automatically refund or give to the convoy was theft.

Thankfully (probably because of the tide of public opinion against them) they decided to automatically refund.

Fixed that for you.

"Do nothing and we will rob you" is not an ethical decision.

And gofundme doesn't have the money to keep it.

Payment Processor: GoFundMe is not a payment processor and does not hold any funds. Instead, GoFundMe uses third-party payment processing partners to process Donations for a Fundraiser (“Payment Processor”). You acknowledge and agree that the use of Payment Processors are integral to the Services and that we exchange information with Payment Processors in order to facilitate the provision of Services.

You are making a distinction without a difference. GoFundMe controlled the money.

 

[Toni]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

Do you have some proof of this?

Eh? That's what the controversy is about. GoFundMe released $1m of the donated funds and then decided the other $9m would not be released to the convoy.

Freedom Convoy: GoFundMe seizes funds of Canada 'occupation'

The crowdfunding website cites reports of "unlawful activity", a claim rejected by protest organisers.

www.bbc.com

From your link:

In a statement, the crowdfunding website said it would withhold the donations already made, and refund donors who fill out a request form.

In a statement on Friday, GoFundMe said the demonstrations were peaceful when the fundraiser first started, but had since violated their terms of service prohibiting the promotion of violence and harassment.
"We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity," GoFundMe said.
The $1m that has already been released will only go to participants who went to Ottawa to peacefully protest, said GoFundMe.
"No further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers - we will work with organisers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities verified by GoFundMe," its statement added.

Well yes. I don't understand what disagreement you have with what I said?

People donated to the convoy, via GoFundMe, with the understanding that GoFundMe would give the money to the convoy.
GoFundMe gave 1/10 of the total donated funds to the convoy before it decided, unilaterally, that the convoy violated its terms of usage.
It then decided that the remaining $9m would not go to the convoy and GoFundMe would instead disburse it to other charities and give refunds to anyone that asks for them.

GoFundMe should either have donated the money as per the original understanding to the convoy, or automatically issued refunds without the need for people to apply via a form. Their plan to not automatically refund or give to the convoy was theft.

Thankfully (probably because of the tide of public opinion against them) they decided to automatically refund.

Fixed that for you.

"Do nothing and we will rob you" is not an ethical decision.

And gofundme doesn't have the money to keep it.

Payment Processor: GoFundMe is not a payment processor and does not hold any funds. Instead, GoFundMe uses third-party payment processing partners to process Donations for a Fundraiser (“Payment Processor”). You acknowledge and agree that the use of Payment Processors are integral to the Services and that we exchange information with Payment Processors in order to facilitate the provision of Services.

You are making a distinction without a difference. GoFundMe controlled the money.

I dunno. Part of me thinks GoFundMe should have turned over the list of donors to the applicable government/law enforcement bodies. Of course that might have held up refunds.

 

[ZiprHead]

GoFundMe stole that money and I would encourage people to never use that company again.

The money has been refunded to the donors.

It has made that decision now. That is not what they were going to do originally.

Do you have some proof of this?

Eh? That's what the controversy is about. GoFundMe released $1m of the donated funds and then decided the other $9m would not be released to the convoy.

Freedom Convoy: GoFundMe seizes funds of Canada 'occupation'

The crowdfunding website cites reports of "unlawful activity", a claim rejected by protest organisers.

www.bbc.com

From your link:

In a statement, the crowdfunding website said it would withhold the donations already made, and refund donors who fill out a request form.

In a statement on Friday, GoFundMe said the demonstrations were peaceful when the fundraiser first started, but had since violated their terms of service prohibiting the promotion of violence and harassment.
"We now have evidence from law enforcement that the previously peaceful demonstration has become an occupation, with police reports of violence and other unlawful activity," GoFundMe said.
The $1m that has already been released will only go to participants who went to Ottawa to peacefully protest, said GoFundMe.
"No further funds will be directly distributed to the Freedom Convoy organizers - we will work with organisers to send all remaining funds to credible and established charities verified by GoFundMe," its statement added.

Well yes. I don't understand what disagreement you have with what I said?

People donated to the convoy, via GoFundMe, with the understanding that GoFundMe would give the money to the convoy.
GoFundMe gave 1/10 of the total donated funds to the convoy before it decided, unilaterally, that the convoy violated its terms of usage.
It then decided that the remaining $9m would not go to the convoy and GoFundMe would instead disburse it to other charities and give refunds to anyone that asks for them.

GoFundMe should either have donated the money as per the original understanding to the convoy, or automatically issued refunds without the need for people to apply via a form. Their plan to not automatically refund or give to the convoy was theft.

Thankfully (probably because of the tide of public opinion against them) they decided to automatically refund.

Fixed that for you.

"Do nothing and we will rob you" is not an ethical decision.

And gofundme doesn't have the money to keep it.

Payment Processor: GoFundMe is not a payment processor and does not hold any funds. Instead, GoFundMe uses third-party payment processing partners to process Donations for a Fundraiser (“Payment Processor”). You acknowledge and agree that the use of Payment Processors are integral to the Services and that we exchange information with Payment Processors in order to facilitate the provision of Services.

You are making a distinction without a difference. GoFundMe controlled the money.

They aren't keeping the money as you implied when you called it theft. And this has been their policy for many years.

There are other limitations in GoFundMe's guarantee policy. Rather than offer refunds, GoFundMe may redirect donations to the intended beneficiary, or provide refunds in the form of credits redeemable for donations to other campaigns, according to the policy.

There are other limitations in GoFundMe's guarantee policy. Rather than offer refunds, GoFundMe may redirect donations to the intended beneficiary, or provide refunds in the form of credits redeemable for donations to other campaigns, according to the policy.

A minimum donation may apply to qualify for benefits, and donors are typically required to reach out to campaign organizers and wait 72 hours for a response before submitting a claim. The policy also exempts claims over a "disagreement with how a campaign organizer or beneficiary uses funds raised in excess of the stated campaign goal at the time of your donation."

GoFundMe waives most restrictive clause in refund policy for Johnny Bobbitt donors

There are exemptions in GoFundMe's refund policy and requirements that donors must meet to get paid back, including submitting a claim within 30 days of making a donation.

www.inquirer.com

From 2018

 

[Metaphor]

I dunno. Part of me thinks GoFundMe should have turned over the list of donors to the applicable government/law enforcement bodies.

Why?

 

[Toni]

I dunno. Part of me thinks GoFundMe should have turned over the list of donors to the applicable government/law enforcement bodies.

Why?

Because I sincerely doubt their sincerity in protesting. I strongly suspect that there are other forces at work here. I know I know I know: conspiracy theories. But I think they're testing the waters in Canada, to see if they can keep the idiot momentum going.

 

[Metaphor]

They aren't keeping the money as you implied when you called it theft. And this has been their policy for many years.

Of course it's theft, or if not theft then the behaviour of a faithless trustee.

If I give you $100 to give to Sandra, and you decide that Sandra is no longer a worthy recipient, and then you give the money to someone else, you've stolen my money. If you say 'well, fill in a form and I will give you the money back', that isn't an ethical demand. It's making me take a step I should not have to take, because you unilaterally decided Sandra was no longer worthy.

Oh: and if it is GoFundMe's policy to be able to unilaterally keep your money and disburse it how they see fit and that's still their policy, then all the more reason people should stop using GoFundMe until that policy is changed.

 

[Metaphor]

I dunno. Part of me thinks GoFundMe should have turned over the list of donors to the applicable government/law enforcement bodies.

Why?

Because I sincerely doubt their sincerity in protesting. I strongly suspect that there are other forces at work here. I know I know I know: conspiracy theories. But I think they're testing the waters in Canada, to see if they can keep the idiot momentum going.

I know you think about 45% of Americans are morally bankrupt deplorables, but donating to causes you don't like isn't criminal, unless it's a terrorist organisation. Do you believe that the trucker convoy protest is a terrorist organisation, and that the many thousands of people who donated to the trucker convoy knew it and donated anyway?

Yeah. Lists of names of people who are dissenters. I bet you love those lists.

 

[Toni]

I dunno. Part of me thinks GoFundMe should have turned over the list of donors to the applicable government/law enforcement bodies.

Why?

Because I sincerely doubt their sincerity in protesting. I strongly suspect that there are other forces at work here. I know I know I know: conspiracy theories. But I think they're testing the waters in Canada, to see if they can keep the idiot momentum going.

I know you think about 45% of Americans are morally bankrupt deplorables, but donating to causes you don't like isn't criminal, unless it's a terrorist organisation. Do you believe that the trucker convoy protest is a terrorist organisation, and that the many thousands of people who donated to the trucker convoy knew it and donated anyway?

Yeah. Lists of names of people who are dissenters. I bet you love those lists.

You do not know what I think or believe about much of anything. You certainly do not know how I feel or what I believe about the GOP. I have little to zero respect for almost all GOP leadership but that hardly comprises 0.001% of the American population.

People donate to causes I don't like all the time. I donate to causes other people don't like all the time.

But you touch on a point: I think that this is perhaps....terrorist adjacent. Or terrorist curious, at the least. And I think that the truckers are being manipulated by people who have a larger prize in mind. Full disclosure: I've donated to a couple of causes via GoFundMe. It's not my favorite mechanism but it has been helpful in getting aid to some people who genuinely need(ed) the funds for very good reasons.

I think that GoFundMe has a moral obligation to set parameters around what it will and will not facilitate funding for. I think that they know that donating to a group that may have terrorist curious leanings is really pushing at the parameters of what is acceptable. As has been pointed out above, GoFundMe's policies have been established for years now. This is not something they pulled out of their hat because it might be politically expedient to do so for this instance.

 

[Metaphor]

You do not know what I think or believe about much of anything.

I certainly do. You tell me all the time. Like when you called everyone who voted for Trump morally bankrupt, which was about 40% of voting Americans at the time you made the statement.

But you touch on a point: I think that this is perhaps....terrorist adjacent. Or terrorist curious, at the least. And I think that the truckers are being manipulated by people who have a larger prize in mind. Full disclosure: I've donated to a couple of causes via GoFundMe. It's not my favorite mechanism but it has been helpful in getting aid to some people who genuinely need(ed) the funds for very good reasons.

So, you believe the people who donated to the convoy knowingly donated to a 'terrorist adjacent' cause, and instead of getting their money back, you would prefer they be put on a list, and that list to go to the Proper Authorities. Gotcha.

As has been pointed out above, GoFundMe's policies have been established for years now. This is not something they pulled out of their hat because it might be politically expedient to do so for this instance.

And I think it's a bullshit clause, exercised unilaterally and post-hoc according to the whims of the corporation, and that people should stop using GoFundMe.