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Brave taking cryptocurrency donations “for me” without my consent

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323 points plusCubed | 4 comments | 21 Dec 18 17:48 UTC | HN request time: 1.951s | source
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SheinhardtWigCo ◴[21 Dec 18 19:48 UTC] No.18735987[source]▶
Brave is a web browser that takes your money and claims to pay out to your favorite websites and content creators, but in most cases actually pays into a "user growth pool" that funds pyramid-shaped marketing (paying users to use the browser) and referral programs for partner content creators. How is that not fraud?
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davidgerard ◴[21 Dec 18 19:49 UTC] No.18736000[source]▶
> How is that not fraud?

The answer appears to be "technically", and "sue if you think you're big enough".

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1. matt4077 ◴[21 Dec 18 20:18 UTC] No.18736253[source]▶
Fraud is a criminal offense. It needs a prosecutor, not a plaintiff.
replies(1): >>18736783 #
2. nradov ◴[21 Dec 18 21:25 UTC] No.18736783[source]▶
In the US legal system there are both criminal and civil forms of fraud. A plaintiff can sue for fraud in civil court, seeking damages or specific performance.
replies(1): >>18739465 #
3. anticensor ◴[22 Dec 18 07:27 UTC] No.18739465[source]▶
Really? In Europe, if an offense has both civil and criminal forms, criminal courts are authorised for both forms of said offense, difference lying in procedure instead.
replies(1): >>18740534 #
4. nradov ◴[22 Dec 18 13:45 UTC] No.18740534{3}[source]▶
Yes really. I doubt that applies to all countries in Europe. The UK legal system is similar to the American one.

US criminal courts can order defendants convicted of fraud to pay restitution to their victims.