Parler Just Flipped Big Tech's Jan. 6 Conspiracy Theory on Its Headhttps://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/tyler-o-neil/2021/03/25/parler-just-flipped-big-techs-jan-6-conspiracy-theory-on-its-head-n1435168In the days after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, Big Tech moved against a conservative alternative social media platform, Parler, based on the premise that the rioters has used Parler to plan the attack on the Capitol and that Parler had failed in its responsibility to prevent such coordination. Based on this narrative, Apple and Google removed Parler from their app stores and Amazon removed Parler’s internet hosting. Yet on Thursday, Parler flipped the narrative on its head.
On Thursday, Parler sent a response to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s request for documents regarding the riot, the company explained in a press release. In that response, Parler revealed that it had “proactively developed an open line of communication with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the fall of 2020 and referred violent content and incitement from Parler’s platform over 50 times before January 6th. Parler also warned the FBI about specific threats of violence being planned for the events at the Capitol on January 6th.â€
The letter details Parler’s efforts “to flag and remove unlawful speech from its platform that was not protected by the First Amendment.†It also notes that of the 270 charging documents filed by the Department of Justice, 80 percent of social media references involved Big Tech platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. “Only 5% referred to Parler.â€
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Along with the letter and the press release, Parler provided the emails alerting the FBI to incitements to violence on Parler’s social media platform. The company repeatedly warned its FBI contact about the potential for violence on January 6.
In one email, Parler forwarded a message from a user who called for “an armed force of American Patriots 150,000… prepared to react to the congressional events of January 6th … And follow what the Declaration of Independence has dictated to do in situations of absolute despotism.â€
Love or hate Parler's actions:
1. Apple's, Google's, and Amazon's actions were, at best, based on false information; a worse possibility, they also knew the information was false.
2. Parler anticipated the possibility that criminal people would try to use their platform, thinking Parler would be unwary or even accepting. Parler wasn't and acted both preemptively and responsively.