Ask HN: Can you legally deny selling software to someone on ethical grounds?

Our company sells software as a service that helps people organize events.

We have been growing quickly over the past couple of years and have recently run into an ethical question: should we (and can we legally) decline to sell our software to organizations that we think are morally wrong?

For example, there are several people on our team that are extremely pro-choice. We had a pro-life group sign up recently and these employees are threatening to quit if we accept their money.

Is it even legal to refuse their business (it could be considered religious discrimination).

I think we're all in agreement that if the KKK signed up and wanted to use our software to organize clan rallies we would not be willing to foster hate speech.

The question has also been raised of if we deny this client where we would draw the line in the future. If a certain politician wanted to use it to organize rallies in the next election would that be Ok even if we vehemently opposed their political beliefs?

How have other software companies dealt with this in the past?

Your company should have legal counsel who can answer questions like this.

Religious discrimination applies to individuals in hiring or school admissions situations. Companies can generally reserve the right to not do business with a customer for any reason, but various legal precedents might apply, so it depends.

I think it's one of the reasons boiler-plate terms-of-service documents have so many restrictions how you may use a service. For example my ISP doesn't allow me to post any hate speech related content while using their internet service. Unlikely to impossible they check all users, but gives them the loophole to deny service to anybody indidually, possibly using a small unrelated technicality as stated reason, should they find out.

Random ShowHN of a website that's not even a month old https://exifshot.com/terms "We have the right (though not the obligation) to, in Our sole discretion (i) [...] or (ii) terminate or deny access to and use of the Website to any individual or entity for any reason, in Our sole discretion. We will have no obligation to provide a refund of any amounts previously paid."

Our SaaS discussed the same. We had political parties we didn't agree with, government agencies we didn't agree with (spying, tracking), even individuals. So far none made it past the trial period, they effectively never really used our service. We would deny service, we're small (and pride?) enough to stand for our ideals.

I agree with your assessment you might get sued when it comes to religious discrimination.

> Is it even legal to refuse their business (it could be considered religious discrimination).

Didn't the supreme court rule for the baker who refused to bake a cake for a gay couple?

If you give in on this, what next will they ask? They are trying to partially take control of the business by making threats. That is never acceptable. Fire them for cause, or at least make them quit. (financially better if they quit, but they might illegally cause harm unless you escort them out immediately)

Also, you don't discriminate if you are serious about running a business. You accept all legal business that is profitable.