Social media app Parler filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon Web Services, alleging that the cloud computing giant’s decision to remove Parler from its services was politically motivated and “designed to reduce competition.” AWS was one of several services (including Apple and Google) to block Parler in the aftermath of the US Capitol attack last week, citing violent content posted on the platform that violated AWS’ terms of service.
More context: Parler launched in 2018 and marketed itself as a “free speech” focused alternative to more traditional social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. The company has grown in popularity among conservative users and reached 10M total users in November, but has faced scrutiny over the content shared on its platform and its content moderation practices.
The New Paper
This story is from the January 12, 2021 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
