Enlarge / Amazon Web Services (AWS) logo displayed during the 4th edition of the Viva Technology show at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles on May 17, 2019, in Paris, France. (credit: Chesnot | Getty Images)
Amazon on Tuesday brought receipts in its response to seemingly defunct social networking platform Parler’s lawsuit against it, detailing AWS’ repeated efforts to get Parler to address explicit threats of violence posted to the service.
In the wake of the violent insurrection at the US Capitol last Wednesday, AWS kicked Parler off its Web-hosting platform at midnight Sunday evening. In response, Parler filed a lawsuit accusing Amazon of breaking a contract for political reasons and colluding with Twitter to drive a competitor offline.
But the ban has nothing to do with “stifling viewpoints” or a “conspiracy” to restrain a competitor, Amazon said in its response filing (PDF). Instead, Amazon said, “This case is about Parler’s demonstrated unwillingness and inability” to remove actively dangerous content, including posts that incite and plan “the rape, torture, and assassination of named public officials and private citizens… AWS suspended Parler’s account as a last resort to prevent further access to such content, including plans for violence to disrupt the impending Presidential transition.”
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