The platform has been criticized for hosting violent and hate speech, for which it has been – like Parler – ostracized by most of the big tech companies that serve as gateways to the internet. Because of this, Gab has had some difficulty keeping his platform in good working order during the recent influx of traffic.
Talking appears to be set to come back online, after being kicked from Amazon Web Services on January 10. On Sunday evening, the website featured a message from Parler CEO John Matze in which he said, “We will resolve any challenges that lie ahead and plan to welcome you back soon. We will not let civil discourse perish! “
Gab, founded in 2016, promotes itself as the “free speech social network” with a mission to “defend, protect and preserve online freedom of speech for all,” as its website describes.
The platform looks like a mixture of Twitter (TWTR) and Facebook (FB) and users can post what they bill as “gabs” of up to 300 characters. But, unlike those traditional social media networks, Gab offers virtually no moderation of the content posted by users.
Gab also has a pro membership level, a merchandise store, and her own “Dissenter” web browser extension that creates its own commenting system.
“We believe that the future of online publishing is decentralized and open,” reads the platform’s website. “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.”
As of April 2020, Gab reported 1,157,000 cumulative registered accounts and 3.7 million monthly visitors worldwide, according to an annual report by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Why is this controversial?
Gab’s lax approach to content gave way to a slew of QAnon conspiracy theories, misinformation and anti-Semitic comments on the platform, amid plenty of vile hate and racist posts – much of it wouldn’t be. licensed on today’s well-known social apps. (although traditional social networks also have their own issues of moderating extremism).
One exception: Gab blocks posts that involve “illegal activity, threats of violence, doxxing, pornography, child exploitation and spam,” which Gab says takes steps to “prevent and suppress “.
The controversial messaging app is also home to prominent conservative voices like Richard Spencer and Alex Jones, some of whom have been banned from more mainstream social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
After Twitter banned President Trump, White House officials were considering getting the president’s account on Gab. In other words, until Jared Kushner dismisses this idea because of an anti-Semitic speech on the network.
Why is it forbidden?
Gab first gained public attention in 2018 after discovering that the suspected Pittsburgh synagogue gunman had used the network to threaten and target Jews. The suspect’s profile had the message, “I can’t sit and watch my people being slaughtered. Screw your optics, I’m going in,” just before killing 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue.
Gab noted in a 2018 statement that he “unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence.” He also said he suspended the account and contacted the FBI.
He was forced offline, following the shooting, after being banned by online payment processors, Pay Pal (PYPL) and Stripe with GoDaddy domain registrar and Joylent web 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 another domain registrar, Epik, which hosted the platform in 2018.
Who owns Gab?
Gab was founded by Andrew Torba, a pro-Trump entrepreneur who describes himself as a “conservative Republican Christian”. Torba, who previously worked 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’, but felt it was time for a conservative leader to step up and provide a forum where everyone can come and express themselves freely. without fear of censorship, ”Torba told the Washington Post in 2016.
“Every major communications medium, every major social network is managed, owned, controlled and operated by progressive leaders, progressive workers in Silicon Valley,” he told the Post.
What’s next for Gab?
Gab is now facing an appeal from the Anti-Defamation League for a criminal investigation to determine whether the platform “intentionally aided, conspired or directed” those who attacked the Capitol on January 6.
The anti-hate group noted in an open letter on Wednesday that there was at least one report that Gab users exchanged “directions as to which streets to take to avoid the police and what tools to bring to help force them down. doors”.
ADL also cited messages from Torba telling users “heading to DC” to “record landscape footage while filming” and “document as much as you can.” He further quotes Torba’s post on the day of the attack, in which he said, “in a system with rigged elections, there are no viable political solutions left.”
In response, Gab called for an investigation on Facebook, where protests were staged. The company also said it put an “immediate shutdown on a series of newly created accounts that threatened violence against officials.”
“We have worked diligently with law enforcement and spent several weeks warning our community of this behavior and taking swift action to remove it from our platform in the weeks leading up to the January 6 protest,” said Torba in a statement. “Our moderation and legal teams work tirelessly to ensure public safety. Threats of violence and illegal activity have no place on Gab.”
Gab claims ADL is targeting him because, unlike Parler, Gab remains operational. 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, which is why they hate us,” Torba said. “We will never comply with their demands and we will never censor 1A-protected legal speeches that hurt the feelings of the ADL. Never. Jesus is king.”
