James Delahunty
25 Oct 2011 8:10
Secret spiller has to take time off to raise cash.
Wikileaks has suspended publishing files, saying it must cease operations in order to raise funds and ensure the survival of the website. It alleges that U.S.-based financial companies have mounted a "blockade" that has gravely impacted its operations.
Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, has called the blockade "arbitrary and unlawful,", pointing the finger of blame at Bank of America, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and Western Union. He alleges that this activity has dried up 95 percent of all revenue to Wikileaks.
"A handful of US finance companies cannot be allowed to decide how the whole world votes with its pocket," he said. Wikileaks will take pre-litigation action in Iceland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Brussels, the United States and Australia, and it has lodged an official complaint with the European Commission.
Of the companies that Assange alleges are part of the blockade, PayPal told the BBC that Wikileaks violates its Acceptable Usage Policy, because it encourages the release of classified material in violation of U.S. law.