Amazon Web Services, Apple, and Google remove Parler in days following January 6 Capitol attack
Between January 8 and January 11, 2021, Google removed Parler from the Play Store, Apple removed it from the App Store, and Amazon Web Services terminated its hosting agreement, taking the platform offline. The companies cited inadequate moderation of content that encouraged or incited the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Parler CEO John Matze called it 'a coordinated attack by the tech giants to kill competition.' An antitrust lawsuit by Parler against Amazon was dismissed in 2021. Parler returned online February 15, 2021 on alternative infrastructure.
Dates: Google Play removal January 8, 2021; Apple App Store removal January 9, 2021; AWS termination January 11, 2021; antitrust suit filed and dismissed early 2021; platform restored February 15, 2021. Parties: Parler; CEO John Matze; Amazon Web Services; Apple; Google; SkySilk (replacement host); later acquirers including Kanye West proposal. What happened: Apple gave Parler a 24-hour ultimatum, then removed the app. Google had removed it the previous day. AWS sent a letter listing specific user posts depicting violence and threats and terminated the hosting contract. Parler went fully offline. Providers' stated reasons: Failure to moderate content inciting violence in connection with the January 6 attack and other planned events. Parler's allegations: Coordinated anticompetitive action and political targeting of a free-speech competitor. Outcome: Parler restored on SkySilk hosting February 15, 2021. App returned to Apple App Store May 2021 and Google Play September 2021 with revised moderation. The federal antitrust suit against AWS was dismissed in April 2021. Parler filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2023.