[LINK] MasterCard pulls plug on WikiLeaks payments

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Stilgherrian wrote:
> On 08/12/2010, at 10:07 AM, Kim Holburn quoted The Meedjuh:
>>> MasterCard said it was cutting off payments because WikiLeaks is engaging in illegal activity. 
> 
> I'm glad MasterCard has decided that we no longer need that annoying and expensive process involving police, prosecutors and courtrooms. Just get transaction processors to declare things illegal. Much better. Efficiency FTW.
> 
<snip>

I doubt they or any other financial institutions have a 
choice under the PATRIOT ACT
> The Act dramatically reduced restrictions on law enforcement agencies' ability to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial, and other records; eased restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States; expanded the Secretary of the Treasury?s authority to regulate financial transactions, particularly those involving foreign individuals and entities; and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. The act also expanded the definition of terrorism to include domestic terrorism, thus enlarging the number of activities to which the USA PATRIOT Act?s expanded law enforcement powers can be applied.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act>

meanwhile:
> Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed charges against former Vice President Dick Cheney and the head of oil services firm Halliburton, over an alleged $180 million scheme to bribe Nigerian officials.
> 
> Halliburton Pleaded Guilty
> 
> Houston-based engineering firm KBR, a former unit of Halliburton, pleaded guilty last year to U.S. charges that between 1994 and 2004, it paid $180 million in bribes to Nigerian officials to secure $6 billion in contracts for the Bonny Island liquefied natural gas project in the Niger Delta.
<http://www.care2.com/causes/politics/blog/breaking-news-dick-cheney-charged-in-180-million-bribery-scheme/>

and...
> NIGERIAN authorities filed charges overnight against ex-US vice president Dick Cheney and several others over a bribery scandal allegedly involving energy firm Halliburton, the prosecutor said....
<http://www.news.com.au/business/breaking-news/cheney-charged-in-halliburton-case/story-e6frfkur-1225967344836>

Marghanita
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
http://ramin.com.au
Tel: 0414-869202