Parler Should File Antitrust Suit Against Tech Giants (OPINION)

FIRST, lets talk about what happened.

SECOND, I'll explain what probably comes next.

The war over online free speech just went nuclear. Over the weekend Amazon, Google & Apple have banned the new, upcoming Twitter substitute known as Parler.

"We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these issues," the maker of the iPhone said on Saturday.

Google released a statement regarding how it requires social media apps to have content moderation policies and moderators. The purposes is to remove posts that incite violence, and they cite what happened at the U.S. Capitol.

Over this past weekend, Twitter permanently banned President Donald Trump’s personal account. Twitter argued that Trump’s tweets incited violence. Facebook is preventing Trump from posting through the inauguration.

Parler's Chief Executive John Matze said Apple does not like the free speech the Parler provides does not come with "broad and invasive policies like Twitter and Facebook."

"They claim it is due to violence on the platform. The community disagrees as we hit number 1 on their store today," Matze said in a post on Parler.

Before these big tech companies blocked Parler millions of conservatives who have also had their content censored or blocked, moved to the new social media platform after deleting their FaceBook and Twitter accounts.

What probably comes next is likely an Anti-Trust and a RICO suit against these big Tech giants by Parler.

There is a long history in this country of the giants of the industry being told by the courts that they cannot prevent or hinder smaller companies or individuals from doing business.

In 2020 the U.S. Justice Department files antitrust lawsuit against Google over its tactics which preserved a monopoly for its search engine and advertising business. The Justice Department claimed Google gave little opportunity for newer and smaller companies to make inroads into the market. Google currently controls search distribution for 80% of internet search queries. The Justice Dept' claimed that Google was limiting choice and innovation for consumers as well as prices for advertisers.

If such a suit is filed by Parler it is very likely, considering American courts long history of antitrust suit rulings, that Google, Apple & Amazon will be forced to restore full access to Parler on behalf of Parler and the people who want to use it.