Social media platform Parler is now offline after Amazon Web Services decided to stop hosting the company’s servers — meaning that users are no longer able to access the Parler platform via app or website.
Tech companies are having a week of reckoning following the recent riot at the U.S. Capitol Building, as many are coming to terms with the role they played in spreading messages of violence and insurrection. Facebook, Twitter and a number of other companies have suspended President Donald Trump from their platforms and services. This is due to the fact that many of these companies have explicit language in their terms of service documents against using their platforms to promote violence.
But the rhetoric for violence goes far beyond Trump. As people were getting kicked off of platforms like Twitter and Facebook for abusive language, many announced they were switching to Parler instead. Parler’s rules are a lot more loose about what kind of speech it will tolerate. As a result, the platform has become a favorite for the most extreme conservative beliefs, including many posts containing language that drew parallels to what unfolded at the Capitol last Wednesday.
As a result, several tech companies are severing their ties to Parler. Google and Apple both removed the app from their app stores. This meant that people couldn’t download the app on their device, but they could continue using it if they already had it downloaded. However, Amazon’s decision to stop hosting the Parler servers deals a much more severe blow, because it renders the platform unusable until its leaders find a new way to host their servers, which is not an easy feat for a multi-million-user app.
Amazon made Parler aware of its intentions on Saturday, saying that it would stop supporting the platform Sunday night just before midnight Pacific. In an email seen by BuzzFeed, Amazon states that it has “seen a steady increase in this violent content on [Parler’s] website, all of which violates [Amazon’s] terms.”
In response, Parler CEO John Matze called the move “an attempt to completely remove free speech off the internet.” Parler is now suing Amazon, claiming that the takedown is politically motivated. But it’s worth noting that free speech laws do not protect individuals who incite actions that would harm others.
Amazon didn’t immediately respond to Built In’s request for comment.
