Bans on Parler app an ‘assault on everybody’, says CEO John Matze

Parler CEO John Matze has hit back at the Big Tech for banning the social networking app from their platforms.

Describing the move as an “assault on everybody”, Matze told Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, “It’s devastating is what it is. They all work together to make sure at the same time we would lose access to not only our apps, but they’re actually shutting all of our servers off tonight, off the internet.”

He further said that Big Tech not only made an attempt to kill the app, but to “destroy the entire company.”

“And it's not just these three companies. Every vendor from text message services to email providers to our lawyers all ditched us too on the same day,” he added.

ALSO READ: Bans on Parler and Trump show Big Tech’s power over web conversation

Parler had gained traction during the US Presidential elections with many conservatives and right-wingers flocking to the platform. The application, however, had raised concerns over its hands-off approach to content regulation.

Following the Capitol riots, Parler saw a crackdown from the top tech companies including the likes of Facebook, Apple, and Amazon over its alleged involvement in fuelling violence. The application had posted over 1.5 million downloads this weekend before Google and others booted it from their platforms.

Matze rejected the claims of its involvement in enticing violence.

“We've never allowed [violence] on our platform. And we don't even have a way to coordinate an event on our platform. They somehow want to make us responsible. This seems to me like an excuse to just basically eliminate free speech at a convenient time for them,” he said.

Matze acknowledged that the company is facing hurdles in bringing back the app. He said all the vendors they talked have refused to work with them.

Interestingly, Parler has gotten backing from Rep Devin Nunes (R - California). Slamming the Big Tech for banning the platform, he said, “'The effect of this is that there is no longer a free and open social media company or site for any American to get on any longer,' he said. 'Because these big companies, Apple, Amazon, Google, they have just destroyed what was likely a billion dollar company. Poof, it's gone.”