I once used Twitter because it would automatically Tweet new blog posts, but I wasn’t happy with their filtering bias, shadow-banning and manipulation of their “check marks”. So I left.
I joined an alternative to Twitter, Gab (when they were still in Beta), because of their commitment to free speech. I’ve made maybe 10 posts, mostly references to my blog. There are people on Gab with whom I do not wish to associate, but where on the Internet isn’t that the case? You don’t have to follow them, or let them follow you.
Most people had never heard of Gab, used by the person who killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue, until yesterday. Now it’s under attack because of this mad man’s actions.
Payment processors PayPal and Stripe, and hosting company Joyent are pulling the plug on Gab.
I never paid for Gab’s “Pro” service, but I just did it now. Visa still works. Whether my payment gets through to Gab any time soon is questionable at this point, but they will probably need funds to sue the payment companies and the hosting company.
Payment and hosting companies’ job is not to suppress legal commerce, nor to decide what legal business is conducted on their servers. They have the right to determine who their customers are, and apply Terms of Service, but not arbitrarily. This incident seems like restraint of trade.
It is worth noting that Louis Farrakhan is still on Twitter and able to describe Jews as “termites.” He’s hardly the only anti-Semite there. The guy who was just arrested for sending bombs threatened people on Twitter. Every shooter I can recall had a Facebook page – the MSM mined them for stories, as did police. How is Gab different?
Well, it didn’t take long for Gab to find a new hosting provider. It seems like this story could be challenging left-wing control of speech. Cue George Gilder: Life After Google just moved to the top of my queue.
I just received this from Gab:
G A B
Gab.com’s policy on terrorism and violence have always been very clear: we a have zero tolerance for it. Gab unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence. This has always been our policy. We are saddened and disgusted by the news of violence in Pittsburgh and are keeping the families and friends of all victims in our thoughts and prayers.We refuse to be defined by the media’s narratives about Gab and our community. Gab’s mission is very simple: to defend free expression and individual liberty online for all people. Social media often brings out the best and the worst of humanity. From live streamed murders on Facebook, to threats of violence by bombing suspect Cesar Sayoc Jr. that went unaddressed by Twitter, and more. Criminals and criminal behavior exist on every social media platform.
Shortly after the attack, Gab was alerted to a user profile of the alleged Tree of Life Synagogue shooter. The account was verified and matched the name of the alleged shooter’s name, which was mentioned on police scanners. This person also had accounts on other social networks.
Gab took swift and proactive action to contact law enforcement immediately. We first backed up all user data from the account and then proceeded to suspend the account. We then contacted the FBI and made them aware of this account and the user data in our possession. We are ready and willing to work with law enforcement to see to it that justice is served.
We have nothing but love for all people and freedom. We have consistently disavowed all violence. Free speech is crucial for the prevention of violence. If people can not express themselves through words, they will do so through violence. No one wants that. No one.
Our user guidelines state:
Threats and Terrorism:
Users are prohibited from calling for the acts of violence against others, promoting or engaging in self-harm, and/or acts of cruelty, threatening language or behaviour that clearly, directly and incontrovertibly infringes on the safety of another user or individual(s). We may also report the user(s) to local and/or federal law enforcement, as per the advice of our legal counsel.
Our privacy agreement state:Information Disclosed for Our Protection and the Protection of Others.
We cooperate with government and law enforcement officials or private parties to enforce and comply with the law. We may disclose any information about you to government or law enforcement officials or private parties as we, in our sole discretion, believe necessary or appropriate: (i) to respond to claims, legal process (including subpoenas); (ii) to protect our property, rights and safety and the property, rights and safety of a third party or the public in general; and (iii) to stop any activity that we consider illegal or legally actionable activity.
…Thanks and remember to speak freely!
You may wish to show some support for Gab.