Parler now booted by Amazon, could go offline for up to a week

Amazon will reportedly suspend Parler from its web hosting services over an increase in violent content shared on the platform.

Amazon is suspending Parler from its web hosting service (Bloomberg)

Amazon is the latest to act against the controversial social media platform Parler. According to a Buzzfeed News, Amazon is removing the platform its web hosting service citing violation of its terms of service.

In an email to Parler, Amazon said the company "cannot provide services to a customer that is unable to effectively identify and remove content that encourages or incites violence against others."

"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 11:59 PM PST," the email said.

Amazon confirmed the authenticity of the email, according to a Business Insider report.

If Parler is unable to switch to another web hosting service, the platform could go offline later today.

Parler CEO John Matze, in the meanwhile, confirmed Amazon's message. He also hinted that the platform could go offline for up to a week.

"We will try our best to move to a new provider right now as we have many competing for our business, however Amazon, Google and Apple purposefully did this as a coordinated effort knowing our options would be limited," he added.

Parler's CEO confirms and says Parler could be off of the internet for up to a week: pic.twitter.com/mrs7bIjMjS

— Brian Fung (@b_fung) January 10, 2021

The crackdown against the Parler application has come in the wake of its alleged involvement in the Capital riot.

Parler was “used to plan, coordinate, and facilitate the illegal activities in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021, that led (among other things) to loss of life, numerous injuries, and the destruction of property,” Apple said in a letter to Parler's developers before kicking the app from its app store.

Parler had gained popularity during the US Presidential elections. The growing traction, however, had raised many eyebrows over the hands-off approach to content regulation. The app is said to be more popular Pro-Trump supports. Interestingly, Parler had jumped to the top of Apple's App Store charts, becoming the most downloaded free app on the store, before Apple removed it.