After the election, many conservatives and numerous extremists have been using Parler, a conventional social media app, financed by Rebekah Mercer, a Republican mega-donor. It describes itself as a Twitter spin-off for free speech.
However, billionaire Bill Gates does not like the platform and describes some of its content as ‘outrageous.’ If someone uses Parler, it means they ‘like outrageous content.’ Gates was addressing the DealBook Summit of the New York Times on Tuesday.
Gates said, ‘Parler is ideal for you if you wish for Holocaust denial.’
(Facebook passed a prohibition on content distorting or disputing the Holocaust and categorized it as hate speech in October). But, Parler does not monitor any of its platform’s content. Therefore, its site features controversial subjects like Holocaust denial, voter fraud, and anti-Semitic comments, indicates the Anti-Defamation League.
Mercer, Jared Thomson, and John Matze founded Parler in 2018. During the week of 9 – 15 November, iPhone and Android users made it the most downloaded app, says a marketing intelligence firm, the SensorTower, which monitors app downloads. At the beginning of the week from 16 November, Android users made Parler rank No. 2, and iPhone users made it rank No. 11.
The app has been a favorite of among people like Maria Bartiromo, the Fox Business host, Sen. Ted Cruz, the Republican Texas Sen. and celebrities Scott Baio and Kristie Alley. A report on 12 November from Wired said that Parler expanded from 4.5 million users to more than 8 million, compared to the more than 2 billion users on Facebook and 330 million users on Twitter.
Most popular conservatives have been encouraging their followers to join Parler after Facebook and Twitter pegged warnings to posts that distributed false data, for instance, posts President Donald Trump shared about voter fraud and election.
Gates, who has been the focus of online anti-vaxxer conspiracy theorists who mistakenly think Gates is attempting to use coronavirus vaccines to microchip people, stated that regulation is essential to control false information on social media platforms.
‘Facebook services present the main method people use to get news, and they increasingly become attracted to very controversial stories such as these conspiracy items or anti-vaccines,’ remarked Gates at DealBook.
’Therefore, an individual who does not wish for outrageous content may be exposed to wild content and find it intriguing. It is a human flaw,’ said Gates.
According to Gates, ‘expecting social media platforms to separate all these factors is a tall order.’ However, in the last few months, especially concerning medical data, Gates remarked that social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have improved their procedure for screening posts and flagging false data.
‘I believe we are somehow finding a solution. It is either ‘ignore it totally’ or ‘strict liability.’ When dealing with strict liability, it is not certain that they can remain in business,’ stated Gates at DealBook.
‘Strict liability describes a legal contract that makes a party liable for harm that its actions or products cause, without being negligent or at fault.’
Twitter spokesperson informed CNBC Make It that the users asked for ‘additional content around high-profile content, which can lead to offline risk, especially during elections.’
Make It requested Facebook and Parlier representatives to respond, but they did not do so immediately.
