After the Capitol riots in January 2021, Parler was deleted from the Google Play Store for enabling posts that intended to “incite ongoing violence in the United States.”
The current owner of the social media platform Parler has stated that Kanye West will acquire the business.
Parlement Technologies announced a deal in principle to sell the “pioneering uncancelable free speech platform” to the rapper, now known as Ye.
West stated, “In a society when conservative viewpoints are considered controversial, we must ensure our ability to express ourselves freely.”
The controversial musician is active on Parler, which markets itself as a “neutral-point-of-view social media app committed to free speech, peaceful conversation, and user privacy.”
Last week, West’s Twitter and Instagram accounts were suspended following an allegedly anti-Semitic post.
He had tweeted for the first time in two years to protest his ban from Instagram, with Elon Musk, the potential new owner of Twitter, welcoming his return.
“Welcome back to Twitter, my friend,” he said to West before swiftly banning him from the platform.
Why Parler is unpopular
After the Capitol riots in January 2021, Parler was deleted from the Google Play Store for enabling posts that seek to “incite ongoing violence in the United States.”
It was also removed from the Apple App Store following the attempted coup by a pro-Trump mob but was reinstated four months later.
The app was suggested as a potential new home for Donald Trump after he was banned from Twitter and other mainstream sites for his role in the violence, which occurred around the time Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory was confirmed.
Following the FBI’s raid on the former president’s Florida house, Mr. Trump ultimately launched his social networking platform, Truth Social, which has recently seen a boom in popularity.
Truth Social presents itself similarly to Parler, promising a censorship-free “big tent” approach. Its Google Play Store tagline urges potential users to “follow the truth.”
Musk has stated that his desire to acquire Twitter is motivated by a desire to protect free expression, and the world’s richest man has stated that he would overturn Mr. Trump’s ban.
After a few stormy months in which Musk committed to and then attempted to back out of buying Twitter, he has been given until October 28 to consummate the deal or face trial.
The acquisition of Parler by West is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2022.
