Parler is Canceled for Now

There's an argument that has gone around libertarian circles that Twitter has the absolute right to suspend / permanently ban a user. I wouldn't say I'm perfectly aligned with libertarian values, but I do feel that I lean in that direction. I was thinking to myself, "These folks can just go to Parler."  

Well, that thought didn't last long. Parler got hit from three sides recently: Google, Apple, Amazon.

Here's the timeline from what I can tell:

First, Google Play banned Parler.

CNN (Jan 8) reported: 

Google said its app store has long required that apps displaying user generated content have moderation policies in place to prevent the spread of violent rhetoric. 

"We're aware of continued posting in the Parler app that seeks to incite ongoing violence in the US," a Google spokesperson said. "We recognize that there can be reasonable debate about content policies and that it can be difficult for apps to immediately remove all violative content, but for us to distribute an app through Google Play, we do require that apps implement robust moderation for egregious content. In light of this ongoing and urgent public safety threat, we are suspending the app's listings from the Play Store until it addresses these issues."

The article goes on to explain that Android users can still get Parler via third-party app stores so the app could still (at the time) be downloaded onto Android phones.

My question is: Parler has been around since 2018 and everyone knew the user content that was on the app so why wait until 2021? Yeah, President Trump is the answer.

Around the same time, Apple gave Parler 24 hours to come up with a way moderate content. That was obviously not a feasible request.

CNBC (Jan 9) reported:

In a message sent to Parler on Saturday, Apple said that the social media app was failing to moderate and remove content that encourages illegal activity, citing two Apple guidelines, one prohibiting objectionable content and one that requires apps with user-generated content to filter out potentially harmful posts.

“Parler has not upheld its commitment to moderate and remove harmful or dangerous content encouraging violence and illegal activity, and is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines,” according to Apple’s message.

Now unlike Google, Apple doesn't allow third-party app stores so if you didn't get Parler during those 24 hours you were just out of luck. 

But, of course, the actions of Google and Apple allowed users to still access Parler. That changed within a few moments of Apple's decision when Amazon decided they would remove Parler from their AWS services by end of day Sunday, January 10th.

CNBC (Jan 9) reported:

Amazon’s cloud-computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS), informed Parler on Saturday that it will no longer provide cloud services to the company beginning on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. PT, according to an email obtained by CNBC. AWS provides cloud services to Parler that host its website, which means that if Parler can’t locate a new cloud provider by Sunday night, the site will go offline for its users.

If the big three weren't enough, security firm Okta also pulled the plug. CNBC (Jan 13) reported:

Okta co-founder and CEO Todd McKinnon on Wednesday defended the company’s decision to cut ties with social network Parler in the wake of the deadly pro-Trump riot last week at the U.S. Capitol.

In an interview on CNBC’s “Closing Bell,” McKinnon criticized Parler for not doing enough to regulate the posts made on its platform and rebuffed concerns that its actions restricted free expression.

So basically, Parler will be shut down for a period of time until they can find new services. One such service is a Russian-owned company called DDos-Guard. Another is a domain company named Epik.

When Parler eventually finds the necessary new services that will allow them to operate again, what else can happen to them? I'm not a web expert, but could Internet/cell phone providers such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile prevent users from accessing Parler? Could Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Apple Safari do something similar for desktop users? How about banks preventing Parler from using their services? We know there are examples of PayPal preventing people from using their financial system. Can the property owner(s) that lease office space(s) to Parler say that the lease(s) is (are) no longer valid and kick the company out -- which honestly, maybe at the moment, no one is in the office? 

Makes me think how far one is willing to go when it comes to the right to deny service. Something for me to think about in terms of libertarianism.