Parler, the alternative social media platform favored by many far-right users because of its lax approach to content moderation, apparently experienced an interruption on Friday night.
Dozens of users of the platform tweeted that they could not access Parler’s website and app.
Parler did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
Reports of Parler’s interruption coincided with reports that Apple threatened to ban Parler from his App Store amid allegations that it was being used to plan, coordinate and co-ordinate the uprising by violent Trump loyalists Wednesday in Washington, DC. facilitate ‘.
However, Apple said it had given Parler 24 hours to address the violations of the App Store policy. It is therefore unlikely that the interruption is related to Apple’s warning.
The interruption reports also come amid Twitter’s decision to permanently ban Trump from the platform “because of the risk of further incitement to violence.”
Users of Gab, another social media platform that has exploded as mainstream websites, have cracked down on misinformation, hate speech and the glorification of violence. it had problems.
Sites like Parler and Gab have become prominent over the past few months as mainstream social media sites have come under increasing pressure to curb hate speech, misinformation and calls for violence.
After the U.S. presidential election in November, Trump supporters flocked to alternative social networks, including Parler, to plan election rallies after Facebook and other websites banned groups that pursued dissenting conspiracy theories. From November 3 to 9, Parler was downloaded about 530,000 times in the US, according to Apptopia.
While a pro-Trump mob on Wednesday violently seized the U.S. Capitol in an attack that left five dead, the armed rioters used Parler and other conservative-leaning social media programs to organize. Apptopia told Business Insider that Parler downloads had risen to about 323% of their average weekly volume since October.
“Hold on! Hold on to the land you’ve gained. Do not give up what we have,” wrote one user of Parler, who went to the “Immortal Noble Beard” handle and identified himself as a proud boy.
Many climbed with posts labeled #revolution, #fightback, #firingsquad and #civilwar. Others are spreading rumors that antifa is behind the mob.
“Content of this dangerous and harmful nature is not suitable for the App Store. As you know from previous discussions with App Review, Apple requires that apps with content be effectively moderated by users to ensure that offensive, potentially harmful content is filtered. “Apple said,” According to BuzzFeed News, Parler added, “Content that threatens the well-being of others, or is intended to incite violence or other lawless acts, has never been acceptable in the App Store.”