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

Democratic House Oversight Committee chair asks FBI to investigate Parler for role in Capitol riot and ties to Russia



The top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform has asked the FBI to investigate social media company Parler for its purported role in the Jan. 6 riot at the United States Capitol and alleged ties to Russia.

Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) on Thursday sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting a "comprehensive investigation" of the "assault on the Capitol" and specifically the "role the social media site Parler played in the assault."

"I am writing to request that as part of its comprehensive investigation of the January 6 assault on the Capitol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conduct a robust examination of the role that the social media site Parler played in the assault, including as a potential facilitator of planning and incitement related to the violence, as a repository of key evidence posted by users on its site, and as a potential conduit for foreign governments who may be financing civil unrest in the United States," Maloney wrote.

Following the events of Jan. 6, Parler became the focus of media reports alleging that the platform was used to coordinate the violent activity that took place. Amazon Web Services booted the website from its web hosting service, citing "a steady increase in violent content," and Google and Apple removed the Parler app from their respective app stores.

The press statement from Maloney notes that some Parler users have been arrested on charges related to the Capitol riot. For example, Troy Anthony Smocks, 58, of Dallas, Texas, was charged for allegedly making violent threats against "RINOS, Dems, and Tech Execs" on his Parler account.

Additionally, Maloney wants the FBI to review Parler's finances and alleged ties to Russia after the website partially re-launched, hiring DDoS-Guard — a Russian digital infrastructure company — to defend against denial of service attacks.

"Given these concerns, we ask that the FBI undertake a robust review of the role played by Parler in the January 6 attacks, including (1) as a potential facilitator of planning and incitement related to the attacks, (2) as a repository of key evidence posted by users on its site, and (3) as potential conduit for foreign governments who may be financing civil unrest in the United States," Maloney wrote.

"In addition, as the Committee conducts its own investigation of these matters to inform its oversight and legislative efforts, I request a meeting with appropriate FBI officials on the status and scope of its review, consistent with protecting the integrity of law enforcement efforts on this front," she continued.

Reports have indicated that violent rhetoric and threats against public officials were made on numerous social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. So far there is no Democratic-led effort to have the FBI investigate those websites.

'We are the Alamo, we will stand': As calls for censorship get louder, Glenn Beck urges Americans to stand together



As calls for censorship and restrictions against conservative voices get louder, Glenn Beck said he feels an "awesome responsibility" to speak, not the words he'd personally like to say, but those he believes the Lord would want him to share.

"It's an awesome responsibility, and one that I am not worthy of," Glenn said. "I want to say ... what He wants me to say. And I have to listen very carefully, because I feel the same way you do. But that will get us nowhere."

Glenn said it's time for Americans who are awake — not woke — to come together, no matter which side of the political aisle you're on, and stand with the truth.

"We are the Alamo, we will stand. But we desperately, desperately need you," Glenn said. "We need the people who are awake — not woke — awake. You may disagree with us. We are your allies, not your enemies. And if you will not stand with us in our hour of need, there will be no one left to stand with you in your hour of need. We must all come together, anyone who is awake."

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Parler CEO optimistic about social network's full return by 'end of the month'



Parler CEO John Matze believes that the "free speech" alternative social network will soon be fully operational again, telling Fox News on Sunday about several steps the website is taking to return after being booted offline by Amazon Web Services.

Earlier Sunday, Parler's website partially relaunched after the company registered its domain and server with Epik, an internet solutions company that also hosts Gab, another Twitter alternative. However, the full functionality of Parler is not yet restored. The website currently shows only a single page with a message to "lovers and haters" about why privacy and free speech are essential for social media.

Matze told Fox News of several positive developments that make him "confident" of Parler's eventual return.

"I'm confident that by the end of the month, we'll be back up," he said.

Days after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, Amazon Web Services shut Parler down, claiming that the website's refusal to moderate "egregious content" had contributed to the violence that took place that day. In response, Parler is suing Amazon for antitrust violations, breach of contract, and unlawful business interference. Matze has previously said the de-platforming of Parler by big tech companies like Amazon, Apple, and Google is unconstitutional and that he's received death threats since the controversy began. He's also said that several other vendors contacted by Parler had refused to host the website before the company registered its domain with Epik.

"Every day it changes wildly, but I feel confident now," Matze said. "We're making significant progress. When you go into Parler.com it doesn't go into the void now, it hits a server, and it returns just one piece of information."

Matze said that on Friday Parler was able to recover its data from Amazon, a necessary step to be able to restore the website's former functionality.

"Now we can actually rebuild Parler," Matze said. "It's critically important."

In the coming days, Parler's website will give former users progress reports as the company rebuilds its social network.

"We're going to be putting periodic updates there," Matze explained. "We're going to try to get an update out every day … so that people can stay up to date with the site."

Matze is optimistic about Parler's future, praising his team for their hard work and dedication to the company's mission.

"Despite all of this, we haven't even had one employee quit," Matze said. "Not one, even with them being harassed and threatened, no one has quit … we've got such a strong team, this has just made them believe in us more."

'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:



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