Google, Apple and Amazon pull the plug on Parler, a social network suddenly popular with Trump supporters

Parler, a social network that was launched in 2018 as a “free speech” alternative to Twitter and Facebook, is suffering from a whiplash.

Through 2019 and 2020, the app drew a number of conservative, right-wing, and far-right fringe users. But its usage has dramatically increased in the past few days in the wake of Wednesday's events at the US Capitol and President Donald Trump's subsequent total ban from Twitter and other platforms.

Apple has removed Parler from the App Store, following accusations that the social media app was fostering calls to violence ahead of, and following, the raid on the US Capitol, according to several media reports, including NYT.

“We have always supported diverse points of view being represented on the App Store, but there is no place on our platform for threats of violence and illegal activity. Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people’s safety. We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these issues,” a statement issued by the company on Saturday evening said.

Apple issued an ultimatum to Parler on Friday demanding that it remove content in violation with its policies and provide a plan on how it would moderate content moving forward. Apple said Parler had 24 hours to make the changes or else it would be removed from the App Store.

Amazon Web Services is suspending Parler's access to its hosting services at the end of the weekend, potentially driving the service offline unless it can find a new provider.

"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," Amazon wrote to Parler in an email.

Google had already booted Parler from its app store on Friday, also citing the prevalence of explicitly violent content left up on the platform.