Parler CEO John Matze announced on Saturday night that the app ‘free speech’ could go offline from Sunday to a week after Amazon kicked off the social media platform from its web hosting service.
On Saturday, an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Trust and Security Team told Parler that the app will no longer offer PST on Sunday, January 10 at 11:59 p.m., after the U.S. Capitol was stormed by a pro-Trump mob that the platform to plan their attacks, according to Buzzfeed News.
Matze told users that it is possible that “Parler will not be available for internet for up to a week if we rebuild from scratch,” according to a screenshot shared by Parlertakes.
“On Sunday (tomorrow) at midnight, Amazon will shut down all our servers in an effort to completely remove freedom of speech,” Matze said in a statement shared with Parler. ‘We prepared for such occasions by never relying on amazons [sic] own infrastructure and the production of bare metal products. “
Matze promised users that he would try to “go to a new provider right away, because there is a lot competing for our business.”
Amazon’s decision comes after Google Play and Apple suspended Parler from its app stores for failing to adequately moderate and remove dangerous and harmful content. Google on Friday suspended the social media network favored by Trump supporters.
On the same day, Apple told Parler to “remove all offensive content from your app” or remove the face from the store, giving the app 24 hours to submit a plan to restrict the content. Apple moved Saturday afternoon to remove Parler.
“Your response also responds to a preliminary moderation plan” that does not meet the ongoing requirements of User-generated Content in Guideline 1.2 – Security, “Apple said in a letter to Parler announcing the suspension. “A temporary ‘task force’ is not sufficient response, given the widespread distribution of harmful content.”
Matze called the suspensions by Google Play, Apple and Amazon a “coordinated attack by technology giants to kill competition in the market.”
“We were successful too quickly,” he said. “You can expect the war on competition and freedom of speech to continue, but we must not count.”
Conservatives, including those who support Trump’s unverified claim that widespread voter fraud caused his election defeat against President-elect Joe Biden, have been turning to Parler in recent months to circumvent Facebook and Twitter censorship.
Trump accuses Twitter of suppressing freedom of speech and suggests he can start his own social media network after being permanently banned from the platform.
Newsweek reached out to Parler for comment.
Olivier Douliery / Getty