Social network Parler returns online

Despite the relaunch, the app was not available for download on Google’s Play Store and Apple’s iStore

Social media service, Parler, which is popular with American right-wing users that virtually vanished shortly after the riot on U.S. Capitol, relaunched on Monday. It said its new platform was built on “sustainable, independent technology.”

The social media, dubbed as an alternative to Twitter, has struggled after Amazon removed it from its web-hosting services on January 11 after Parler refused to remove posts inciting violence. It was also removed by Google and Apple from their app stores over the same reason.

It had appointed Mark Meckler as its interim chief executive, replacing John Matze who was fired by the board this month, Parler said in a statement announcing the launch.

Despite the relaunch, the website was still not accessible to many users and the app was not available for download on Google’s Play Store and Apple’s iStore.

Though a number of users took to Twitter to complain they were unable to access the service, a few were able to access their existing account.

Parler, which stressed that it once had over 20 million users, said its current users would be back online in the first week and open to new users in the next week.

Founded in 2018, the app claims to be platform for free speech and largely attracted U.S. conservatives who disagree with rules around content on other social media sites.

On Monday, Parler said its new technology cut its reliance on “so-called Big Tech” for its operations.

However, it is unclear which company was hosting Parler.

Parler is being run by an experienced team and is here to stay, said Meckler, who had co-founded the Tea Party Patriots, a group that emerged in 2009 within the fiscally conservative Tea Party movement and helped elect dozens of Republicans.

It is also backed by hedge fund investor Robert Mercer, his daughter Rebekah Mercer and conservative commentator Dan Bongino.