Visa, MasterCard Taking Action Against VPN Providers

STOCKHOLM — MasterCard and Visa reportedly have now started to take action against virtual private network (VPN) providers in an apparent move to target websites that could be linked to copyright infringement.

Swedish payment provider Payson.se cut access to VPN providers such as iPredator.se and other anonymizing services after being ordered to do so by the credit card companies.

The VPN providers offer encrypted tunnels so that consumers IP address turns into anonymous ones.

Other VPN providers, such as Anonine, Mullvad, VPNTunnel and Privatvpn, among others, also are using Payson processing.

iPredator founder Peter Sunde told TorrentFreak that he is considering legal action to get the service unblocked.

TorrentFreak noted that there’s an unwritten rule that MasterCard and Visa don’t accept file-hosting sites that have an affiliate program. PayPal, meanwhile, has pulled accounts of file-sharing websites this year.

Payson last week delivered email notices as seen on this website that VPN services are no longer allowed to accept Visa and Mastercard payments due to a policy change, which went into effect on Monday.

Clients, such as iPredator's Sunde, were left with a two-day window to find alternatives for its own customers. iPredator charges SEK150, about $25, for three months of access.

Sunde, when reached by XBIZ on Thursday, said MasterCard and Visa are "acting like an illegal cartel."

"I'm always upset when companies in a monopoly decide what other companies are allowed to do or not. MasterCard and Visa are essentially a monopoly on any payments, which are the fundament for any sort of business transaction between customers and companies," Sunde told XBIZ.

"They're acting as an illegal cartel pushing their ethical views on other companies and their customers in other parts of the world, which is violating so many human rights. It's a direct censorship, echoing a bad taste of 1984-ish control. We as a society need to fix this!

"Visa and MasterCard needs to be heavily regulated and they need lots of competition. They're acting worse than most mafia families."

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

MojoHost Releases Statement on the Future of Adult

In the wake of Tuesday's election and amid concerns about the possible ramifications for the adult industry, MojoHost President Brad Mitchell has releases a statement addressing Project 2025 and the future of the industy.

Adult Web Hosting Service 'Midnight-Host' Launches

Midnight-Host, a new web hosting service designed specifically for adult websites, has launched.

ASN Lifestyle Magazine Joins Pineapple Support as Media Sponsor

ASN Lifestyle Magazine has joined the ranks of over 60 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support, partnering with the organization as a media sponsor.

Adult Industry Reacts to Trump Victory

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the office he lost four years ago.

Fetisfy Online Fetish Marketplace Launches

Fetisfy.com, an online marketplace for users to sell fetish items, has launched.

Pineapple Support Launches 'Spill the Tea, Colombia' Community Support Event Series

Pineapple Support has launched "Spill the Tea, Colombia," a monthly, in-person community support event for adult industry professionals.

Streamster Launches 'Tip2Peep' Camera-Switching Feature

Live-streaming software provider Streamster has launched Tip2Peep, a new feature that allows viewers to switch between multiple webcam viewing angles by tipping the creator.

Tyler Wu Guests on Chaturbate's 'Sex Tales' Podcast

Tyler Wu is the latest guest on Chaturbate’s “Sex Tales” podcast, hosted by Melissa Stratton and Vanniall on the company’s “Camming Life” YouTube channel.

Fleshy to Launch Interactive Cam Site 'Eromote'

Male pleasure brand Fleshy has announced that it will launch an interactive, bidirectional cam site next month called Eromote.

XBIZ LA Show Introduces New 'Crib Crawl' Feature

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of its flagship conference, the XBIZ Show, will debut a brand-new feature: Crib Crawl, offering attendees the chance to meet and greet representatives from leading brands and organizations in dedicated suites at the host venue.

Show More