Social media website Parler comes back online

Parler, the social media website that was banned on Apple’s iStore, Google’s Play Store, and Amazon, has come back online. While it is not running at full operational levels, its URL displays two messages. The first of these messages reads:

“Now seems like the right time to remind you all — both lovers and haters — why we started this platform. We believe privacy is paramount and free speech essential, especially on social media. Our aim has always been to provide a nonpartisan public square where individuals can enjoy and exercise their rights to both, according to a statement on the social media website.

We will resolve any challenge before us and plan to welcome all of you back soon. We will not let civil discourse perish!”

The second one is from CEO John Matze posted on 16 January, stating simply “Hello world, is this thing on?”.

Parler was previously offline as it was banned on Amazon Web Services where it hosts its site. Therefore, it did not have access to Amazon servers that stored the content that had been posted online. So, Parler has been looking for ways to get online after it was banned by major internet service providers.

Now, it seems Parler has been registered with Epik, a web hosting service provider that supports the registration of many websites including the likes of Gab and 8Chan. Apart from web hosting services, Epik also provides a number of other services to websites.

However, Epik told CNN that it does not provide web hosting services to Parler. So, it remains unclear as to which company is providing server support to Parler.

With respect to a future relationship between Epik and Parler, it is important to note that our conversations to date have been focused on improvements in policy, rather than specific capabilities for hosting and service provision, Epik said in a statement on 14 January.

As the capacity exists for Parler to purchase servers direct almost anywhere in the world, the most critical elements of any return online should be first focused on the significant responsibility they carry for self-policing, better governance, and more capable enforcement of policy, the domain hosting company said.

According to one employee familiar with the company’s efforts to find new hosting services, the social media website has been discussing a deal with Cloudrovia, which provides tools to websites. It follows rumours of talks between the two companies, with Cloudrovia positioning itself as a ‘free speech’ advocate.

The employed said that a deal “over six figures” has been discussed for “almost a week”, and is expected to be announced, with Cloudrovia “massively expanding server capabilities”.

However, they continue, some see the move as controversial. Adding, “It’s all gone very dark [and] quiet”, continuing to say that other employees have said they will leave the company should Cloudrovia announce the deal, and are feeling “hesitant and confused”.

Some companies have also conveyed to Cloudrovia that they would withdraw their custom if the company hosts Parler. Among these companies are some well-known companies such as furniture brand Savs and video calling platform Pijin.

A Savs spokesperson said that the company does “not condone any of the hate speech that circulates on Parler.”

“A partner company of ours that also works with Cloudrovia informed us of their partnership with Parler. We have read Cloudrovia’s statements on free speech and we will not work with a company that opens their doors to Parler.”

According to an internal source, Cloudrovia’s CEO issued an internal statement explaining that it had “offered our services to Parler indefinitely” and that the company had been in communication with the team since the ban took effect.

The CEO also apparently said employees should remember the “great lengths” made for “the preservation of free speech.”

“You may not support the current leader of the USA. However if you respect democracy, you will have considered that 75 million Americans [sic] voted him into power. The recent bans on social media signal a dangerous threat to our democracy, the statement continues.

We have witnessed the silencing of an elected politician by non-elected entrepreneurs. Taking away anyone’s [sic] voice, be it your neighbour or local shop keeper, should worry us all. The fact this voice belongs to the elected leader of the free world, exhibits the frightening power of tech, it states further.”

This statement criticised Apple and Google for platforming Parler, claiming the app was launched with “‘uncensored free speech’ as a key feature”, before removing it after the events at the Capitol Building.

The Parler app was suspended from Apple’s iStore and Google’s Play Store following insurrection attempts on the US Capitol last month.

Google said it suspended Parler “in light of this ongoing and urgent public safety threat.”

In an email to Parler executives, Apple wrote: “We have received numerous complaints regarding objectionable content in your Parler service, accusations that the Parler app was used to plan, coordinate, and facilitate the illegal activities in Washington DC.”

Amazon took Parler off its Amazon Web Services, saying it had seen “a steady increase in this violent content on your website, all of which violates our terms”.

Parler responded to its removal from Amazon Web Services by taking legal action against the internet service provider. It accused Amazon of “political animus” and double standards compared to the treatment given to Twitter.

AWS’s decision to effectively terminate Parler’s account is apparently motivated by political animus, states the lawsuit.

There is no merit to these claims. AWS provides technology and services to customers across the political spectrum, and we respect Parler’s right to determine for itself what content it will allow, an Amazon spokesperson said in a statement.

However, it is clear that there is significant content on Parler that encourages and incites violence against others, and that Parler is unable or unwilling to promptly identify and remove this content, which is a violation of our terms of service. We made our concerns known to Parler over a number of weeks and during that time we saw a significant increase in this type of dangerous content, not a decrease, which led to our suspension of their services Sunday evening, the spokesman stated.