Gab’s website, the right-wing social network, went offline and its Twitter account also disappeared on Friday night.
From February 19th at 19h, the site remained unavailable online. Your associated Twitter account, @GetOnGab, is also no longer available. The Twitter account, which used to have more than 419,000 followers, now says “This account does not exist”.
Some Twitter users have posted that Gab’s website may have been hacked as part of a cryptocurrency scheme, however Newsweek was unable to verify the information independently.
Twitter said Newsweek who “did not take coercive measures” on Gab’s account.
Some Twitter users posted images showing Gab’s accounts of notable right-wing media outlets – like The Gateway Pundit and National File – asking people to donate funds for a questionable-looking link.
A Twitter user with the @WhoIsJaneGalt identifier said he was at Gab shortly before going offline and posted an image showing a message from Gab allegedly posted on InfoWars founder Alex Jones just before the closure. Jones’ message, in what appeared to be a hack, said: “I’m going to multiply your Bitcoins by investing fast!”
Other Twitter users, however, have expressed concern that “Big Tech” – meaning big social media and internet companies – has removed Gab from the web. “I got tired of you, they won’t stop until we’re all gone,” wrote @realCCrump.
These concerns come from the fact that Parler, another right-wing social network, was taken down in January by Amazon Web Services. Amazon stopped hosting Parler on its servers on allegations that Parler users had incited violence, including the January 6 riots at the United States Capitol.
In early January, both Google and Apple removed the Parler app from their online stores. alleging similar “threats of violence” from users. Parler’s Twitter account, @parler_app, remains online.
Marcos Calvo / Getty
On January 8, Twitter permanently banned former President Donald Trump “due to the risk of further incitement to violence” after the Capitol riots. However, on February 6, Trump returned to social media by posting a message on Gab, his first social media message since his Twitter ban.
Trump’s February 6 post – an image of his letter to Maryland’s Democratic congressman and top impeachment manager Jamie Raskin of Maryland – quickly won over 62,000 likes from his 1.4 million followers. But despite his popularity, Trump has not yet returned to social media significantly.
If Trump decides to continue his earlier use of social media, Gab may be one of the only vehicles available to him. Facebook and Instagram have indefinitely suspended their posting skills. He also hasn’t joined Parler yet, although Parler has offered him money to do so.
Update (02/19/2021, 21:50): This article has been updated to include a Twitter statement.