We mentioned PayPal before. More trouble this time, as the family of the Aboriginal inventor and writer, David Unaipon, pictured on an Australian $50 note, have called on PayPal to pull down its “degrading” and “disrespectful” ads that use a doctored picture of the man.
It seems that PayPal launched an campaign in Australia, using ads that have images of the $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes with motorcycle police helmets added on the characters depicted to suggest PayPal has heightened security for its users.
The Sydney Morning Herald tells us:
Well-known Aboriginal activist Allan Campbell and his brother John, great-nephews of David Unaipon, who is pictured on the $50 note, were shocked to learn their uncle’s image had been used in that way.
and
“It is very disrespectful because for a start no Aboriginal people have a helmet – we’re not bikies and we’re not Vikings,” said Allan, 61, from Murray Bridge in South Australia.
In defense, PayPal say it’s perfectly legal. But I agree with TechCrunch – that’s missing the point.
Just because it’s legal in a country doesn’t mean it won’t be be culturally offensive. Or right.
