Upwork is asking for return of payment from the OP. From the article's title: "Upwork is asking me for a $12,500 refund". From later in the article, this is not an isolated incident: "A day after, a few other freelancers whom we were working with, started contacting me saying that Upwork is asking all of them for a refund as well."

This is not the same as Upwork refusing to continue working with the freelancer. This is Upwork attempting to modify the terms for previous work done by the freelancer.

They’re only modifying the terms for future work done. Namely, the freelancer won’t get any money for it. They’re not requesting them to pay back $12500 right now.

I'm not a contact lawyer, but that sounds like it would be an invalid contract for lack of consideration. In the terms for future work being done, Upwork is requiring the freelancer to do more than a month of work without Upwork providing any consideration in return. No payment for work done, no promise not to extract the same unpaid labor again.

This is one of the most disingenious and bent takes i have seen in my life.

its like arguing that homeopathy shitheads that 'helps with cancer' are not scammers because of placebo effect