Seems fishy. Oh what an undersatement... Sorry for that.

Mastercard and Visa block payments to Swedish VPN firms

Just what are VISA and MasterCard playing at? Both at the same time they forced a payment processor to block card payments to Swedish based VPN providers.

WTBH? (What The Bloody Hell)

Sure VPN's can be used by anyone for anything from:

- Avoiding blocks on using BitTorrent sites blocked because some rich blokes (not the artist) can't understand the importance (to a fan) of finding elusive films or music that hasn't been released since the 90's (said fan would also buy the official re-release when it comes out (yes I'm talking of myself)).

- Ensuring that thier private data remains private, at least while traversing the local network on its way to the net. Think about who may be watching your packets and SSL handshakes while you are on a public WiFi hotspot.

- Allowing you to be free to appear to exist anywhere (geographically) so you can get around such restrictions.  Companies may hate this due to needing to enforce copyright and licensing restrictions. But it is a two sided issue. People don't necessarily care about companies and what they want to do to the people. Some people think they should have the last say because they are the consumer. Microsoft learned this when they tried to stop people from sharing games for the Xbox one. How criminal, to even think about lending a copy of a game, DVD, or book. Money is lost!  Well stop them doing it, loose customers instead.

- Illegal nasty things. Yep. You can do that too. If you are one of the FEW who would. Just like to say that the same FEW could do nasty things using a car, cement mixer, alcohol, even a brick taken from the workmen building their extension! But I don't expect visa or MasterCard to block payments by normal people to thier builders to prevent the FEW getting hold of a brick.

Who is behind this stupidity! This insult to freedom and common sense? What are thier motives?

How do we stop these disgusting tactics?

Don't be fooled to think this is the only example. Sir Tim Berners-lee has stated many times recently that this kind of attack against our free internet is getting more and more common. And easier.

Visa, MasterCard, you want to protect us from VPN's? Perhaps you could also please stop people buying cars with your cards. Some drivers run people over with them!