Parler CEO John Matze joins CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” on 2 July 2020.
CNBC
Amazon has pulled the plug on Parler, a social media app popular with Trump supporters, following the deadly U.S. Capitol riot earlier in the week.
Amazon’s cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS), told Parler Saturday that it will not provide cloud services to the company starting Sunday at 11:59 pm PT, according to an email received by CNBC. AWS provides cloud services to Parler who hosts their website, which means if Parler is unable to find a new cloud provider before Sunday night, the site will go offline for the users.
Amazon’s decision to let Parler down was first reported by BuzzFeed.
In an email, the Amazon Web Services Trust and Security team told Chief Policy Officer Parler Amy Peikoff that the platform still hosts “brutal content” that violates AWS terms of service . AWS said they were not satisfied with Parler’s efforts to model content on its platform and, as a result, would move to “suspend Parler’s account.”
“AWS provides technology and services to customers across the political spectrum, and we continue to respect Parler’s right to determine for himself what content he allows on his site. , “the letter states.” However, we cannot provide services to a customer who cannot identify and remove content that incites or incites violence against others. Because Parler cannot adhere to our conditions of service and which pose a real threat to public safety, we intend to prevent public safety. Parler account effective Sunday, January 10th, at 11:59 PM PST. “
Although both Google and Apple removed the Parler app from their app stores on Friday and Saturday, respectively, users could still log in if their app was already installed or through the Parler website. Amazon’s move to discontinue Parler hosting goes a step further, effectively taking it completely offline if the hosting company can’t find a new one first.
A spokesman from Amazon confirmed the veracity of the letter to CNBC, but declined to say further. Parler’s spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.