2020 saw the creation of Parler, a social media platform. Parler was
to contrast with Facebook in one important area: content moderation. Parler's
promise to the Trump supporter was essentially that there would be no fact-
checking, no truth to get in the way of your flavor of reality. The platform,
funded by a wealthy ultraconservative, was the realization of the fears of
many: Facebook unhinged — where propaganda and lies can swirl about unfettered,
free to influence the willing. The attempted coup on January 6 was a direct result
of stupid masses being lied to by people they've come to blindly trust — Trump,
Cruz, Hawley, et cetera.
Conservatives cried foul when Facebook realized it actually was responsible
for the bullshit that was being pumped onto its platform, starting with the
inspection of hundreds or even thousands of accounts it realized were created by
Russia. That propaganda made the 2016 election a giant mess.
So when Facebook started cracking down on content last year, savvy conservatives
realized the lies about ballot fraud and the U.S. Postal Service and all these other
things had actually created a demand for more lies — thus, Parler was born
to fill that void.
Over the past couple of days, mainstream media has reported that Parler, once it
was tied directly to the coup attempt, is being killed off. First, I saw a report
that Google was suspending the app from its app store... next, I saw that Google had
axed it, and Apple was considering similar actions. Then I read that Amazon, which
hosts the Parler website and services, is kicking them off of their AWS servers as
of Monday.
The argument is the defense of free speech versus terms of service.
The Case for Free Speech
In my mind, one could argue that even though these misguided idiot conservatives
are completely talking out of their asses — or, perhaps more correctly, misguided
idiot conservatives who are recognized authorities in the world of misguided
idiot conservatives, are completely talking out of their asses to masses of misguided
idiot conservatives — their ass talk is free speech, something we value in this
country.
When I was serving on active duty, it would pain me to see people burn our flag
in protest — but what would sorta piss me off about it was that SCOTUS ruled that
my job was actually to protect their right to do it.
So, bearing the whole flag thing in mind, should the misguided idiot conservatives
be able say what they want to say? Sure.
BUT...
The Case for Terms of Service
Parler was built on the Amazon Web Services platform. The people who created
Parler entered into an agreement with Amazon, and agreed to Amazon's terms of service.
The people who created Parler's mobile app entered into agreements with Google to
build it for the Android platform, and for it to be hosted in the Google App Store.
They also entered into agreements with Apple to build it for the iPhone/iPad platform,
and for it to be hosted in the Apple App Store.
Therefore, Amazon, Google, and Apple, independently, can determine whether any web
application or mobile application satisfies their criteria for hosting and development.
That criteria is established and agreed upon before a single byte of space is alloted
on a server. (Key word: agreed upon.)
In the case of Parler, Parler agreed to those terms of service. It's Parler's
responsibility to remain compliant with the terms of those agreements, just like it's
my responsibility to remain compliant with the terms of my agreement with my hosting
provider. It's not rocket surgery.
My Conclusion
Parler has options, but they could get expensive.
I think Parler can do whatever it wants in terms of the content it allows on its
site, but it's either going to have to partner with a network with an acceptable use
policy that's a better fit for misguided idiot conservatives, or it's going to have
to create its own.
If Parler wants device apps, they'll have to comply with whatever app market and
device manufacturer they want their app on, OR get with Mr. Valentine and make their
own.
So I think what we're learning here is that Parler can have all the free speech it
can stand, but Parler is going to have to be live someplace where it either complies
with the terms of service of that platform. And, if Parler is going to have mobile
applications, those applications are either going to have to comply with the terms
of service of the app stores OR be "side-loaded" onto peoples' devices.