The platform has been criticized for hating hatred-filled, violent speech, for which it – like Parler – has been barred from most Big Tech companies serving as the front door to the internet. Hence, Gab had some difficulty in keeping his platform running smoothly during the recent influx of traffic.
Parler appears to be back online after being kicked off Amazon Web Services on January 10. On Sunday night’s website, there was a message from Parler’s CEO, John Matze, in which he stated, “We will solve every challenge and plan to welcome you all again soon. We will not let the bourgeois language perish!”
Founded in 2016, Gab has excelled itself as the “social network for free speech” with a mission to “defend, protect and preserve the freedom of speech online for all people,” according to the website’s description.
The platform looks like a mix of Twitter (TWTR) and Facebook (FB) and users can post what it bills as “gabs” of no more than 300 characters. But unlike those mainstream social media networks, Gab provides virtually no moderation of the content users post.
Gab also has a pro subscription tier, merchandise store, and its own web browser extension “Dissenter” that creates its own commenting system.
“We believe the future of online publishing is decentralized and open,” the platform’s site reads. “We believe that social network users should be able to control their social media experience on their own terms, rather than Big Tech’s terms.”
In April 2020, Gab reported 1,157,000 cumulative registered accounts and 3.7 million monthly visitors worldwide, according to an annual report from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions.
Why is it controversial?
Gab’s lax approach to content has given way to a slew of QAnon conspiracy theories, disinformation and anti-Semitic commentary on the platform, in addition to a lot of vile hatred and racist posts – much of it wouldn’t be allowed on today’s well-known social apps (although mainstream social networks also have their own problems to moderate extremism).
One exception: Gab blocks messages related to “illegal activities, threats of violence, doxxing, pornography, child exploitation and spam”. Gab claims it is taking action to ‘prevent and get rid of this’.
The controversial messaging app is also home to some prominent conservative voices, such as Richard Spencer and Alex Jones, some of whom have been banned from more mainstream social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
After Twitter banned President Trump, White House officials considered giving the president an account on Gab. That is, until Jared Kushner ignored that idea due to anti-Semitic speeches on the network.
Why is it prohibited?
Gab was first scrutinized in 2018 after discovering that the alleged Pittsburgh synagogue shooter was using the network to threaten and target Jews. The suspect’s profile had the message, “I can’t stand by and watch my people being slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in,” just before he allegedly killed 11 people in the Tree of Life synagogue.
Gab noted in a 2018 statement that it “unequivocally denies and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence.” It also said it suspended the account and contacted the FBI.
It was forced offline, after the shooting, after being banned by online payment processors, PayPal (PYPL) and Stripe teamed up with domain registrar GoDaddy and website hosting service Joylent on hate speech.
Despite attempts by Big Tech companies to shut down the network, Gab has managed to stay online. The site is now under another domain registrar, Epik, who welcomed the platform in 2018.
Who Owns Gab?
Gab was founded by Andrew Torba, an entrepreneur Trump supporter who describes himself as a ‘conservative Republican Christian’. Torba, who used to work in Silicon Valley, created the alternative network in response to reports that social platforms like Facebook were biased against conservatives.
“I had no intention of building a ‘conservative social network’ in any way, but I felt it was time for a conservative leader to step in and provide a forum where everyone can come and talk freely without fear of censorship, ”Torba told the Washington Post in 2016.
“Every major communication channel, every major social network is run, owned, controlled and managed by progressive leaders, progressive workers in Silicon Valley,” he told The Post.
What’s next for Gab?
Gab is now facing a call from the Anti-Defamation League for a criminal investigation to determine whether the platform “deliberately provided assistance, conspiracy or direction” to those who attacked the Capitol on January 6.
The anti-hate group noted in an open letter Wednesday that there was at least one report that Gab users “ exchanged clues for which streets to take to avoid the police and what tools to take to pry open doors. ”
The ADL also quoted messages from Torba telling users “on their way to DC” to “record footage in landscape mode while filming” and “document as much as possible”. It further quotes Torba’s post on the day of the attack, saying, “In a system with falsified elections, there are no viable political solutions.”
In response, Gab called for an investigation into Facebook, where protests were staged. The company also said it had “immediately put an end to a series of newly created accounts threatening violence against government officials.”
“We worked diligently with law enforcement and spent several weeks alerting our community about this behavior and taking swift action to remove it from our platform in the weeks leading up to the January 6 protest,” Torba said in a statement. a statement. “Our moderation and legal teams work tirelessly to ensure public safety. Threats of violence and illegal activity do not belong to Gab.”
Gab claims the ADL focuses on it because, unlike Parler, Gab remains active. In a statement to CNN, Torba said hate speech is “not real” and is protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution.
“The ADL has NO POWER over Gab and that’s why they hate us,” said Torba. “We will never give in to their demands and we will never censor legal, 1A-protected speech that hurts the feelings of the ADL. Someday. Jesus is King.”
