Parler’s CEO, who said he had more than 12 million users before being cut off by Amazon, Apple and Google last week, said the popular social network among Trump supporters may not be able to find a new home on the internet.
Asked in an interview with Reuters when Parler could return, CEO John Matze said: “It may never be. We do not know yet. “
Amazon’s AWS division withdrew its hosting services contract with Parler, who promoted themselves to conservatives as a “free speech” alternative to Twitter or Facebook on Sunday. In taking action, Amazon cited nearly 100 examples of violent threats to Parler, which the e-commerce company said the social app was unable to remove. Parler’s disconnection by AWS came in the wake of the January 6 violent attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump crowd, a shocking attack for which the president was accused on Wednesday for the second time.
Previously, Apple and Google banned Parler from their respective app stores, citing Parler’s inertia in policing violent and harmful content and the risk of contributing to more violence after the Capitol rebellion.
Matze told Reuters that Parler was in talks with other hosting services, but declined to mention them, “citing the likelihood of harassment for the companies involved,” according to the report. On January 11, Parler’s domain name was transferred to Epik, a registrar favored by far-right groups that hosts Gab.com and the domain name of former Proud Boy websites, Mashable reported.
Parler sued Amazon on Monday, alleging breach of contract and violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act for allegedly conspiring with Twitter to close the application. Parler is seeking a request to reinstate his AWS contract and unspecified monetary damages. Amazon said the lawsuit was without merit and filed documents showing it warned Parler in late 2020 about the app’s violent hate speech.
In addition to being kicked out of Apple and Google’s app stores and hacked by AWS, Parler was banned by American Express and online payment provider Stripe, according to Matze.
Founded in 2018, Parler bragged about his direct approach to moderation, in contrast to policing intensified by mainstream social media to eliminate misinformation and hate speech. The company is financed by hedge fund investor Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah Mercer.