Big Tech is taking a stand. In the aftermath of the insurrection, Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and Snapchat suspended some high profile accounts (including President Trump’s personal accounts) for violating their terms of service. Google and Apple removed Parler (a poorly monitored social media site) from their respective app stores.
Early this morning, Amazon canceled Parler’s AWS contract (which means it’s basically off the grid) and Stripe announced that it will no longer process payments for President Trump’s campaign website.
Some people are crying censorship, but here’s the thing: when you sign up for a Stripe account, you agree that you won’t accept payments for “high risk” activities, including those for any business or organization that “engages in, encourages, promotes or celebrates unlawful violence or physical harm to persons or property.” All big tech companies have similar provisions in their terms of service.
Is this right or wrong? I’ll discuss this tomorrow with Carolyn Everson, Facebook’s VP Global Business Group, at our Innovation Series Summit at 11 a.m. EST. Get your calendar invite here.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.