Kanye West is buying Parler, the controversial 'free speech' social network

The app has only just been restored to the Google Play Store, after being removed for posts inciting violence during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

Mashable SEA Oct. 17, 2022

Kanye West is buying Parler, the controversial 'free speech' social network

Kanye West, or Ye as he is now known, is buying Parler, a controversial social media network touting itself as a "free speech" alternative to platforms like Twitter.

Parler's parent company Parlement Technologies announced the news on Monday in a press release, writing that Ye's acquisition will "further lead the fight to create a truly non-cancelable environment". The deal is expected to close towards the end of this year.

"In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves," said Ye in the official Parler statement.

George Farmer, Parlement Technologies' CEO, said, "This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech." Farmer is married to Candace Owens, the conservative commentator who has been photographed with Ye multiple times and infamously, earlier this month.

"Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again. Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative," Farmer continued, concluding that "Parlement will be honored to help him achieve his goals."

Ye's acquisition of Parler comes after facing a flurry of social media backlash. On Oct. 10, the rapper was temporarily locked out of his Twitter and Instagram accounts for antisemitic posts. This followed a series of antics during Paris Fashion Week, including an incident where Ye sported a "White Lives Matter" T-shirt, sparking outrage and widespread condemnation.

Earlier this year, Ye was also suspended from Instagram for 24 hours, following his use of a racial slur towards Trevor Noah.

Ye joined Parler today, around the time of the acquisition announcement.

Parler has branded itself as an alternative to social media platforms like Twitter and a supposed digital haven for "free speech". The platform was created in 2018, by two Nevada-based conservative programmers. In 2020, the app became especially popular with conservatives, right-wing personalities, and Donald Trump supporters.

In 2021, Parler was removed from the Google Play Store and the Apple Store for playing a role in the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The app allegedly helped rioters openly discuss the attacks on the Capitol Building. The aftermath of the Capitol Riots saw a social media reckoning elsewhere, with Trump being banned from Twitter before launching conservative social media platform Truth Social.

Apple reinstated Parler to the App Store in May 2021, while Google Play just did so last month. Both moves came as a consequence of Parler tightening its moderation policies and agreeing to mark and hide certain posts, such as those displaying racist hate speech.

Under Parler's current "Values", as seen on their website, users are encouraged to "discuss and defend...values, passions, accomplishments and ideas in an environment that lets you be you, free of agenda-driven 'shadow-banning.'" They also emphasize a "viewpoint-neutral" environment, where "the expression of all non-violent ideas" can take place.