Visa and MasterCard transactions rejected

8 Dec 2010

Since yesterday around 22:30 CET, Visa and MasterCard transactions have been rejected in our system. We have received a suspension notice from our payment processor stating that Visa Europe has instructed them to stop all future credit card transaction to DataCell while they investigate the case in order to protect the Visa brand name; and to make sure neither payment processor nor Visa Europe is doing illegitimate transactions to fund the WikiLeaks website. Quoting the same reason, our payment processor has also suspended DataCell MasterCard account.

The suspension period will be one week from today, but it may be extended. 

DataCell ehf, who processes credit card donations for WikiLeaks, has decided to take immediate legal action in order to make the donation possible again. We were shocked to learn that by doing so we would have damage the Visa brand name. The blockage of credit card transaction is violating the contract between Visa and its customers. Visa customers have explicitly expressed their wish to make donation to WikiLeaks through Visa but unable to do so. The unwarranted blockage of credit card account is probably more damaging to Visa brand name, with large number of Visa customers contacting us in dismay about the donation rejection. 

It is pretty obvious that Visa is under political pressure to close our account. We strongly believe that as a world class company such as Visa, they should not be bowing down to political pressure but simply do their business where they are good at. They have no problem transferring money to other businesses such as gambling websites and pornography services, so why donation to an organisation who uphold justice and human rights become immoral is beyond my understanding.

Visa is damaging both WikiLeaks and DataCell financially by holding up payments for 7 days or more and rejecting the future donation through credit cards. It is clearly an attempt trying to undermine WikiLeaks through financial mean. This is not about the Visa brand name. This is about politics. Visa should not be involved in it.

Meanwhile, if you wish to donate, you can use wire transfer to the specific bank accounts of WikiLeaks. We will do our best in the meantime to continue to support WikiLeaks.