Direct Action From Visa

	Visa is an association that links cardholders, merchants and its member financial institutions through the world’s largest electronic payment network. Visa supports laws intended to protect cardholders, merchants and its members.  The Visa system is governed by global and regional operating regulations that apply to its 20,000 members.

Visa member banks are required to know the nature of the business of the merchants that they bring into the Visa system. Visa may permanently prohibit a merchant from accepting Visa or from participating in Visa’s payment system for any activity that adversely affects the goodwill of the system or the Visa brand.  Visa specifically requires acquirers to ensure that Visa-branded payment products are not accepted for purchase or trade in child pornography by any merchant. 
 
If Visa becomes aware of an internet child pornography site, it notifies the merchant's acquiring bank and works to ensure that card acceptance privileges of the merchant are terminated immediately. Visa members that continue to offer payment services to internet child pornography merchants are subject to measures that include significant financial penalties.
 
Visa also requires all card issuers to disclose in their cardholder agreements that a Visa card must not be used for any unlawful purposes, including the purchase of goods or services prohibited by local law in the cardholder's jurisdiction.
 
The internet, that enables buyers and sellers to interact across borders, often anonymously, presents particular challenges in the determination of the legality of goods and services.  While Visa itself does not determine the legality of transactions, Visa is committed to assisting governments and law enforcement authorities in the eradication of illegal activities.