Social media platform Parler says it will return in Q1 2024 under new owners, after its closure back in April this year.
Parler, the Twitter-like social media app that was popular with the far right in the United States, could stage a dramatic return next year.
The Associated Press reported that Parler is relaunching sometime in Q1 2024, ahead of the US presidential elections, under new ownership.
Parler achieved fame for being mostly used by supporters of former US President Donald Trump and the right wing in the US. The platform was also reportedly awash with QAnon conspiracy content.
Essentially QAnon touts there is a worldwide cabal of Satan-worshipping paedophiles who rule the world, and who control politicians, the media, and Hollywood.
After the storming of the US Capitol building on Wednesday 6 January 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump, that resulted in the deaths of five people, including one police officer who was beaten to death, Google and Apple removed Parler from their respective App Stores after it emerged that many rioters used the app.
Soon after on 10 January 2021 Parler disappeared online, when Amazon Web Services stopped hosting it.
At that time Parler launched a lawsuit against AWS in response, and the platform did make a brief return online with the help of a Russian-owned technology company.
Behind the scenes Parler founder and CEO John Matze was fired by the app's board of directors.
Parler eventually returned online in mid February 2021 by using CloudRoute LLC as its new host and replacing Amazon with open-source software platform Ceph.
It only returned to the Google Play Store in September 2022.
In October 2022 controversial American rapper Kanye West, who legal challenged his name to Ye in 2021 and also divorced the reality star Kim Kardashian, announced he was to purchase Parler.
Parler also said it would continue to pursue future opportunities for growth.
Now the AP has reported that Parler was recently acquired by Texas-based limited liability corporation known as PDS Partners.
According to AP, Elise Pierotti, who is returning as the platform's chief marketing officer, said PDS Partners consists of herself, Parler's new CEO Ryan Rhodes and others who are choosing to remain anonymous.
Jaco Booyens, an anti-sex trafficking activist, will reportedly serve as the chief strategy officer.
She said it was finalised last week and expects the platform to relaunch in the first quarter of next year.
This Cyber News was published on www.silicon.co.uk. Publication date: Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:13:05 +0000