Case Study: Parler

What is Parler?

Parler was founded as the “Free Speech” network, a Twitter-esque, anti-moderation social platform popular among members of the alt-right, especially in the aftermath of Twitter’s ban of former President Donald Trump. The platform shut down following allegations that its failure to regulate content contributed to violent attacks on the United States Capitol.

A brief timeline of the shutdown

January 6th: Trump supporters riot in US Capitol.
January 8th: Google removes the application from its app store. Apple warns Parler to improve content regulation.
January 9th: Amazon Web Services withdraws their support for the platform. Apple removes the application from its app store.
January 11th: Without a means of profit or of accessing consumers, Parler has no ability to function and goes offline (present). Parler files antitrust lawsuit against Amazon (court filings include content inciting violence which may be disturbing to some readers).
January 21st: Judge rules in favor of Amazon.

Why is this important?

The Parler case serves as an excellent illustration of the increasingly close relationship between political movements and the internet as well as the capacity of non-state actors to regulate online content in the absence of more traditional legal interventions.

It also raises important questions about free speech and monopoly in internet governance:

Even if private corporations are allowed to censor content under their state’s constitution, should they?

Although Parler’s antitrust lawsuit failed (as of the publication of this blog), what vulnerabilities (social, security, or otherwise) are created by the concentration of online commercial and regulatory power in the hands of a few major corporations?

For committee, consider how these considerations are extended to global governance: 

If you are representing a country, how much influence do non-state actors have in your state’s content regulation? Do you have private or public protections for free speech?

If you are representing a corporation, were you involved in the events? How have you historically acted in response to similar situations?