The platform has been criticized for hosting violent and hate-filled speeches, so it has been, like Parler, ostracized by most Big Tech companies that serve as the gateway to the Internet. That’s why Gab has had some difficulty getting his platform to run smoothly during the recent influx of traffic.
Parler appears to be about to return online, after being kicked out of Amazon Web Services on January 10th. The website on Sunday evening featured a message from Parler CEO John Matze stating, “We will solve any challenge we face and plan to welcome everyone again soon. We will not let you lose your civil speech!”
Gab, founded in 2016, is set up as the “free speech social network” with the mission of “defending, protecting and preserving online freedom of expression for all people,” as described on its website.
The platform looks like a mix of Twitter (TWTR) i Facebook (FB) and users can post what is billed as “gabs” of no more than 300 characters. But unlike these major social networks, Gab shows virtually no moderation in the content users post.
Gab also has a pro subscription level, a merchandise store and its own “Dissident” web browser extension that creates it proprietary feedback system.
“We believe the future of online publishing is decentralized and open,” says the platform’s site. “We believe that social media users should be able to control their social media experience on their own terms, rather than the terms set by Big Tech.”
In April 2020, Gab recorded 1,157,000 accumulated registered accounts and 3.7 million monthly visitors worldwide, according to an annual report by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Why is it controversial?
Gab’s lax approach to content has given way to a number of QAnon conspiracy theories, misinformation and anti-Semitic comments on the platform, amidst a lot of vile hatred and racist publications, many of which are not they would allow today’s well-known social applications (although major social networks also have their own problems moderating extremism).
One exception: Gab blocks posts involving “illegal activities, threats of violence, doxxing, pornography, child exploitation, and spam,” which, according to Gab, takes steps to “prevent and eliminate.”
The controversial messaging app also hosts some prominent conservative voices like Richard Spencer and Alex Jones, some of which have been banned on more common social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
After Twitter banned President Trump, White House officials were considering getting an account from the president to Gab. That is, until Jared Kushner suppressed this idea because of anti-Semitic discourse on the net.
Why is it forbidden?
Gab conducted a public examination for the first time in 2018 after discovering that the alleged gunman at the Pittsburgh synagogue was using the net to threaten and attack Jews. The message appeared on the suspect’s profile: “I can’t sit and watch my people die. Load up your optics, I’m going,” just before killing eleven people in the Tree of Life synagogue.
Gab noted in a statement in 2018 that it “unequivocally disallows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence.” He also said he suspended the account and contacted the FBI.
He was forced offline, after the shooting, after being banned by online payment processors, PayPal (PYPL) and Stripe along with GoDaddy domain registrar and Joylent website hosting service for hate speech violations.
Despite attempts by Big Tech companies to shut down the network, Gab has managed to stay online. Its site is now under a different domain registrar, Epik, which welcomed the platform in 2018.
Who owns Gab?
Gab was founded by Andrew Torba, a Trump supporter businessman, 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 didn’t set out to build any‘ conservative social network ’by any means, but I felt it was time for a conservative leader to step up and provide a forum where everyone could come and speak freely without fear of censorship,” Torba told Washington Post in 2016.
“All the major media outlets, all the major social networks, are run, controlled and operated by progressive leaders, progressive workers in Silicon Valley,” he told The Post.
What will follow for Gab?
Gab is now facing a call from the Antifamation League for a criminal investigation to determine whether the platform “intentionally helped, conspired or directed” those who attacked the Capitol on January 6th.
The anti-hate group said in an open letter on Wednesday that there was at least one report that Gab users were exchanging “directions on which streets to take to avoid police and what tools they should bring to help open doors.” .
The ADL also cited Torba’s posts telling users to “go to DC” to “record images in landscape mode while filming” and “document everything they can.” He also cites Torba’s publication on the day of the attack, in which he says that “in a system with rigged elections there are no longer viable political solutions.”
In response, Gab called for an investigation into Facebook, where protests were organized. The company also said it stopped “immediately a series of newly created accounts that made threats of violence aimed at public officials.”
“We worked diligently with law enforcement and spent several weeks warning 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. “Our legal and moderating teams work tirelessly to ensure public safety. Threats of violence and illegal activities have no place in Gab.”
Gab claims that the ADL is aiming for it because, unlike Parler, Gab continues to function. In a statement to CNN, Torba said the hate speech “is not real” and is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
“The ADL has no POWER over Gab, that’s why they hate us,” Torba said. “We will never bend to their demands and we will never censor 1A-protected legal discourse that harms the ADL’s feelings. Never. Jesus is king.”
