Parler, a social media platform that went dark after violating Apple and Google and Amazon’s terms of service, is back online. The company has a new interim CEO and says it has re-launched on “sustainable, independent technology.”
The app’s backstory is controversial. Parler bills itself as “the world’s town square” where you can “speak freely and express yourself openly, without fear of being ‘deplatformed’ for your views.” But in practice, the site was removed from both the Apple and Google app stores and had its AWS contract terminated for failing to police violent content related to the deadly January 6th attack on the US Capitol.
Importantly, this is not a First Amendment issue. Corporations set their own terms of service, and Parler signed a contract to abide by them. This fact has not stopped people from screaming about “cancel culture” and freedom of speech.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.