The service to Parler, an unfiltered social networking site favored by conservatives, was partially restored on Sunday, a week after the site went offline after Amazon refused to continue hosting the site on its servers.
Although the site’s social networking features don’t seem to work, site visitors are now greeted by a message from Parler CEO John Matze.
“Now seems the right time to remind everyone – both lovers and haters – why we started this platform. We believe that confidentiality is essential and freedom of expression is essential, especially on social networks. Our goal has always been to provide a non-partisan public market where individuals can enjoy and exercise their rights to both, “the January 16 message reads.” We will solve any challenge before us and we intend to welcome you all soon. . We will not let the civil discourse perish! “
According to CNN, the website now appears to be hosted by Epik – a company that also hosts websites such as the Gab messaging service and the right-wing 8chan forum. Both sites have generated and facilitate the spread of white supremacist views and conspiracy theories, such as QAnon.
In recent months, right-wing conservatives have come to Parler after claiming that traditional social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook have gone too far in censoring users. Parler called himself the “social network of free speech.”
However, Parler also attracted conspiracy theorists and violent actors to the platform. Several reports detailed how Parler users planned aspects of the January 6 attack on the platform.
BuzzFeed also reports that Parler users celebrated the January 6 riots in the days after Trump supporters violated the Chapter and that some are encouraging another rally in Washington the day before Biden’s inauguration.
Matze said he was against Parler’s community guidelines to “incite or threaten violence or other law-breaking activities.” Amazon is just the latest company that has taken steps to de-platform the social networking site.
Last weekend, both Apple and Google prevented the site’s mobile app from being downloaded to its platforms.
In 2019, a few weeks after a mass attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh, which left 11 dead, Amazon launched Gab – a social application favored by far-right conservatives – after an investigation showed that the shooter posted on the site anti-Semitic sites.