Been an odd few weeks in the payment processors world. First, Mastercard used its leverage to get Patreon to ban Robert Spencer.
https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2018/08/15/mastercard-forces-patreon-to-kick-off-jihad-watchs-robert-spencer/I know, Breitbart. But the mainstream isn't covering the story and the article has sourced material. Spencer runs "Jihad Watch" which is considered by some to be a "hate group". I don't know him from Adam but it is odd to have Mastercard dictate to Patreon who is allowed based on speech.
On a similar odd note Patreon closed the account of Carl Benjamin better known on the internet as Sargon of Akaad. He used the n-word on a show (not his own).
https://heavy.com/news/2018/12/patreon-sargon-of-akkad-jordan-peterson/I'll agree he spoke poorly and while I understand the point he was trying to make he stepped out of line (my opinion).
Immediately in response Sam Harris closed his Patreon account and within days both Dave Rubin and Jordan Peterson have announced they will close theirs January 15.
http://thefederalist.com/2018/12/21/jordan-peterson-dave-rubin-plan-new-site-in-response-to-illiberal-ban/Peterson (on Rubin's show if you want to hear it yourself) called out a group called "Change the Terms" which focuses on getting payment processors to include hate speech clauses in their terms of service.
https://www.changetheterms.org/For the first time in the history of the world your economic well being is now tied to your speech. Or maybe your actions. For now it's been confined to the realm of political speech but any small business owner should take heed and realize how their life could be effected by a freeze by payment processors. Mastercard hasn't issued any guidelines on what actions will bring their disdain.
There are a lot of us who do business using Patreon, Ebay, Etsy, Facebook, etc. Losing electronic payments is very bad news.