GoFundMe investigated for blocking donations to Canadian truckers

Four states investigate GoFundMe after fundraiser bans donations to protest truckers COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Canada.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Wednesday that his office will investigate GoFundMe for blocking and withholding donations already made to the platform through its website. Removing the campaign from its website could violate the state’s deceptive commercial practices law, he said.

“GoFundMe’s response to an anti-mandate movement for freedom should sound the alarm to anyone who uses the donation platform and, more broadly, to any American who wants to protect his or her constitutional rights,” said Attorney General Paxton. in a statement. “Many Texans have donated to this remarkable cause. I am working to protect Texas consumers so they know where the hard-earned money is going, instead of allowing GoFundMe to divert money to another purpose without the consent of Texas citizens. . ”

Why GoFundMe says it blocked donations

GoFundMe announced last week that it would stop any fundraising that violates its terms of service, including campaigns that forgive violence. GoFundMe announced on February 4 that it was canceling the Freedom Convoy campaign of Canadian truck drivers protesting vaccine orders and other restrictions on COVID-19 after finding that the demonstrations had become what the company called “occupation”, citing “police reports of violence and other illegal activities”.

GoFundMe initially said it would give supporters of the now-defunct campaign, which raised nearly $ 8 million, until February 19 to demand a refund. He also said he would direct any remaining donations to “trusted and established charities selected by Freedom Convoy 2022 organizers and verified by GoFundMe”.

But the company later reversed its course, saying it would automatically return the money to campaign supporters in order to simplify the process. Donors can expect a refund within 10 business days, according to GoFundMe.

Florida, Missouri and West Virginia are also investigating GoFundMe’s Freedom Convoy campaign. Missouri Attorney General Eric Smith claimed that GoFundMe was trying to silence the group, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSadis accused the company of fraud when it said it would divert funds to other charities.

“It is a scam for @gofundme to seize $ 9 million in donations sent to support truckers and give them requests of their choice,” the governor wrote on Twitter. “I will work with @AGAshleyMoody to investigate these misleading practices – these sponsors should be given a refund.”

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey also said GoFundMe’s original plan to redirect money violated state law and urged residents to report any misleading acts or practices by GoFundMe.

“Will #GoFundMe not honor #FreedomConvoy donations now and redirect to other charities? At WV, organizations should not deceive donors and engage in misleading advertising practices. ! ” Morrisey wrote on Twitter before the company pledged to automatically return the money to contributors.

GoFundMe did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CBS MoneyWatch.

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