Judge denies Parler's request to force Amazon to reinstate website services



The social media platform Parler lost a bid for a court order to force Amazon to reinstate their website services.

Amazon banned Parler from their web host servers on Jan. 9 over what they claimed was a "steady increase" in "violent content" that was against their terms of service. Parler's CEO John Matze accused the tech industry of colluding in order to squeeze competition out of the marketplace, and filed a lawsuit against Amazon days later.

Attorneys for Parler requested a preliminary injunction from the court and argued in part that Amazon was violating laws against monopoly in favor of Twitter, Parler's competitor.

U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein said in her decision on Thursday that Parler had not proven that it was likely to succeed against Amazon, and was not entitled to an injunction that would return the website services to the platform.

"The likelihood of Parler prevailing on its claims is not a close call. Parler's allegations at this time are both inaccurate and unsupported, and are disputed by evidence submitted by [Amazon]," said Rothstein.

Rothstein found the connection between Parler's suspension and Twitter tenuous since Amazon doesn't have the same relationship with Twitter as it does with Parler.

"Parler has failed to do more than raise the specter of preferential treatment of Twitter by [Amazon]," said Rothstein. "Parler and Twitter are not similarly situated, because [Amazon] does not provide online hosting services to Twitter."

Rothstein also rejected the argument from Parler that reinstating their social media platform was in the public interest.

"The Court explicitly rejects any suggestion that the balance of equities or the public interest favors obligating [Amazon] to host the kind of abusive, violent content at issue in this case, particularly in light of the recent riots at the U.S. Capitol," said Rothstein.

"That event was a tragic reminder that inflammatory rhetoric can — more swiftly and easily than many of us would have hoped — turn a lawful protest into a violent insurrection," she added. "The Court rejects any suggestion that the public interest favors requiring [Amazon] to host the incendiary speech that the record shows some of Parler's users have engaged in."

Rothstein was nominated to the court by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

The ruling leaves the future of the social media platform in question, though Matze has promised that the service will return.

Here's more about the future of Parler:

House Oversight Committee calls on FBI to investigate Parlerwww.youtube.com

Parler reappears online with message from CEO: 'We will not let civil discourse perish!'



Parler — the social media platform popular with conservatives as a "free speech" alternative to Twitter — reappeared online Sunday after Amazon Web Services booted it offline a week ago, the Hill reported.

What are the details?

There's only a single screen with text and nowhere to navigate, but it's more than the completely blank page users saw for the last several days.

"Hello world, is this thing on?" Parler CEO John Matze asks in a screenshot of what appears to be Parler post.

Then under the heading "Technical Difficulties," a message reads as follows:

Now seems like the right time to remind you all — both lovers and haters — why we started this platform. We believe privacy is paramount and free speech essential, especially on social media. Our aim has always been to provide a nonpartisan public square where individuals can enjoy and exercise their rights to both.

We will resolve any challenge before us and plan to welcome all of you back soon. We will not let civil discourse perish!

What's the background?

Following U.S. Capitol rioting Jan. 6, social media sites began banning conservatives and conservative groups, including President Donald Trump. Parler was no exception — and Amazon last weekend told Parler it would suspend it from Amazon Web Services' hosting servers.

"Recently, we've seen a steady increase in this violent content on your website, all of which violates our terms. It's clear that Parler does not have an effective process to comply with the AWS terms of service," Amazon said in an email to Parler, BuzzFeed News reported.

"[W]e cannot provide services to a customer that is unable to effectively identify and remove content that encourages or incites violence against others," the email added. "Because Parler cannot comply with our terms of service and poses a very real risk to public safety, we plan to suspend Parler's account effective Sunday, January 10th, at 11:59PM PST."

Then Amazon pulled the trigger. As did Google and Apple. And Parler went dark.

A day after Amazon took down the platform, Parler announced it is suing Amazon for antitrust violations, breach of contract, and unlawful business interference.

On Tuesday Parler registered its domain and server with Epik, an Internet solutions company described by Vice as the "the internet savior of the far-right" since it also hosts Gab, another social media alternative that Big Tech loves to hate.

Matze also said last week he'd received death threats after Parler was taken down.

'You have no idea how bad this was': Dan Bongino details behind-the-scenes 'smear campaigns' against Parler



Dan Bongino, host of The Dan Bongino Show, is an investor in Parler — the social media platform that actually believes in free speech. Parler was attacked by Big Tech — namely Amazon, Apple, and Google — earlier this week, but Bongino says the company isn't giving up without a fight. In fact, he says, he's willing to go bankrupt over this one.

Dan joined Glenn Beck on the radio program to detail what he calls a "smear" campaign behind the scenes, and how he believes we can move forward from Big Tech's control.

"You have no idea how bad this was behind the scenes," Dan told Glenn. "I know you're probably thinking ... well, how much worse can the attack on Parler have gotten than three trillion-dollar companies — Amazon, Apple, and Google — all seemingly coordinated to remove your business from the face of the Earth? Well, behind the scenes, it's even worse. I mean, there are smear campaigns, pressure campaigns ... lawyers, bankers, everyone, to get this company ... wiped from the face of the earth. It's incredible."

Dan emphasized that he would not give up without a fight, because what's he's really fighting for is the right to free speech for all Americans, regardless of their political opinions, without fear of being banned, blacklisted, or losing jobs and businesses.

"I will go bankrupt. I will go absolutely destitute before I let this go," he said. "I have had some very scary moments in my life and they put horse blinders on me. I know what matters now. It's not money. It's not houses. It's none of that crap. It's this: the ability to exist in a free country, where you can express your ideas freely."

Watch the video below to hear more from Dan:


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'I will NEVER stop standing for freedom of speech': Glenn Beck reacts to Parler shutdown by Big Tech



Early Monday morning, Amazon Web Services removed social networking platform Parler from its cloud servers. This comes just after Apple and Google removed the Parler app from their app stores over the weekend.

"You can't find them on the internet anymore. They're gone," Glenn Beck said on his radio program Monday.

"This is something I warned you of four years ago ... because a profound technological change is coming," he continued. "I told you, at the time, high tech will need the government, and the government will need high tech. And they will work together to preserve their power and their position. This is what's happening, today."

Glenn said he believes the "far left" has been talking about breaking up companies like Parler for years, and that the Capitol riots provided the opportunity they needed.

"This is not the end of this. This is where the Left is starting," he warned. "Those who persist in standing for freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to assemble, freedom to keep and bear arms, those people will be targeted for deletion. You will be hounded, boycotted, fired, ostracized, and de-platformed. And the louder and the more significant and effective your voice is, the bigger the target is on your back.

"But, let me say this: I will never stop standing for freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to assemble, freedom to keep and bear arms, and all of the rest of the Bill of Rights. That is the American thing to do."

Watch the video below for more from Glenn:



Want more from Glenn Beck?

To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.