Up and coming social media platform Gab.com was taken offline by its hosting company following the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Tree of Life this week that left 11 people dead. The reason? The shooter used their platform to post his threats and venomous hatred of Jews. So, why should that be Gab's problem? It isn't, but it's being made out to be that way so that a precedent is set for simply removing platforms, which are not publishers, for any reason their hosting company thinks appropriate, even though there are protections in the law for platforms like Gab. Facebook crossed the line on that a long time ago when they decided to be censors. However, Gab's CEO believes it demonstrates they are a real threat to the state-controlled media and "the Silicon Valley Oligarchy."
In a post that comes up at Gab.com, CEO Andrew Torba declared that the social media startup had been working with the Justice Department and the FBI to bring 46-year-old Robert Bowers to justice following the shooting.
"Because of the data we provided, they now have plenty of evidence for their case," Torba wrote.
"In the midst of this Gab has been no-platformed by essential internet infrastructure providers at every level," he continued. "We are the most censored, smeared, and no-platformed startup in history, which means we are a threat to the media and to the Silicon Valley Oligarchy."
Torba also assured users that Gab wasn't going anywhere and not to believe the media or other trolls on social media say about Gab being done for good.
"We have plenty of options, resources, and support," he wrote. "We will exercise every possible avenue to keep Gab online and defend free speech and individual liberty for all people."
Additionally, while recognizing that this is a temporary setback, it has also aided Gab in becoming nationally recognized.
"You have all just made Gab a nationally recognized brand as the home of free speech online at a time when Silicon Valley is stifling political speech they disagree with to interfere in a US election," Torba wrote.
I've always said that all publicity is good publicity if one knows how to use it. One of the greatest examples of that in recent history is President Donald Trump, who not only made his own publicity, but was able to use bad publicity to his advantage. Gab should do the same.
Echoing words right out of V for Vendetta, Torba declared:
No-platform us all you want. Ban us all you want. Smear us all you want.You can’t stop an idea.
Torba then lays the blame of the shooting exactly where it belongs, at the feet of the criminal who committed the crime.
"The internet is not reality," Torba wrote. "TV is not reality. 80% of normal everyday people agree with Gab and support free expression and liberty. The online outrage mob and mainstream media spin machine are the minority opinion. People are waking up, so please keep pointing the finger at a social network instead of pointing the finger at the alleged shooter who holds sole responsibility for his actions."Gab is working around the clock in order to bring the platform back online. As they do, Torba encourages everyone to speak freely.
Understand, no one can silence you for speaking, even speaking unlawfully, but that doesn't mean there are not consequences to your speech. You have the right to speak that which is right and true. You don't have a right to speak lies and that which is unlawful.
I wish Gab the very best in their endeavors and pray for the day, that Facebook ends up on the ash heap of history along with MySpace and other social media platforms.
Once they are back up, don't forget to follow me on Gab.