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Monday, November 9, 2020

Parler 'free speech' app tops charts in wake of Trump defeat

 

A photo illustration shows someone holding a phone with the Parler logo on it, while a laptop screen with its advertising is seen blurred in soft focus in the backgroundIMAGE COPYRIGHTGETTY IMAGES

Twitter alternative Parler has become the most-downloaded app in the United States as conservatives flock to the self-styled "free speech" app after the US election.

It follows a clampdown on the spread of election misinformation by Twitter and Facebook in recent days.

Owner Dan Bongino said the service was adding "thousands to users per minute" on Sunday.

But the sudden boom also caused technical issues for users.

Some reported problems registering and a slowdown of the app as its servers attempted to deal with the influx.

Parler founder John Matze said the app had added two million new users in a day, and increased its daily active users four-fold over the weekend.

"Don't worry, the app isn't normally this slow," he promised new arrivals.

A three-part composite shows the Parler interfaceIMAGE COPYRIGHTPARLER
image captionSome of Parler's most popular users are Republicans and media personalities

While Mr Trump himself is not a user, the platform already features several high-profile contributors following earlier bursts of growth this year.

Texas Senator Ted Cruz boasts 2.6 million followers on the platform, while Fox News hosts Mark Levin and Sean Hannity each have more than two million.

Newsmax, a conservative-leaning news outlet, also crept near the top of the charts at the same time.

What is Parler?

Launched in 2018, Parler has proved particularly popular among Trump supporters and right-wing conservatives. Such groups have frequently accused Twitter and Facebook of unfairly censoring their views.

It is one of a handful of start-up social networks - such as MeWe or Gab - trying to appeal to disgruntled users of the biggest platforms.

Parler in Apple chartsIMAGE COPYRIGHTAPPLE
image captionParler is ahead of bigger, better-funded apps in Apple's US download charts

Mr Trump has been among Twitter's most vocal critics and has seen many of his tweets hidden and labelled as misleading during the election period.

Named after the French verb "to speak", the app has very similar functions to Twitter. Posts can be replied to with comments, "echoed" in a way similar to retweeting, and upvoted instead of liked.

Parler says it keeps bans to an "absolute minimum", and does not fact-check posts.

Parler does, however, ban some things, including pornography, threats of violence, and support for terrorism.

Right-wing 'safe space'

Following Joe Biden's projected win in the presidential election - and Mr Trump's unsubstantiated claims of fraud - many conservatives encouraged each other to leave Twitter and Facebook for Parler.

On Facebook, multiple events and groups with thousands of members are encouraging a "mass exit" from Facebook to Parler from Friday 13 November.

The planned exodus has been mocked by left-leaning Twitter users as an escape to a "safe space" devoid of challenge or criticism.

The light-touch approach to content moderation means that misinformation can spread more easily on the platform than on those with stricter rules.

Presentational grey line

Analysis

By Shayan Sardarizadeh, disinformation reporter

The first "mass migration" of right-wing users from major social networks to Parler happened in June, after a number of accounts that posted misleading content about Covid-19 and George Floyd protests got banned from the bigger social media sites.

Thousands of supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory have joined in in the last few weeks, after Facebook, Instagram and YouTube took sweeping action against them in early October. Followers believe President Trump is waging a secret war against a "deep state" elite of Satan-worshipping paedophiles.

Facebook's ban on organisations that promote violence has also forced groups such as the Proud Boys and Boogaloo Bois to rebuild on Parler.

However, platforms like Parler have become an echo-chamber for a relatively limited group of like-minded users. That's why many users who have migrated to Parler make repeated attempts to create new accounts to return to major networks - as they know that's where their content can get widespread traction.

While the content posted on Parler is usually not as extreme as other self-proclaimed "free speech" platforms like Gab and MeWe, it is the home of many posts that would either be flagged as misleading or removed by major platforms - on topics like the election, Covid-19, child trafficking and vaccines.

Presentational grey line

Senator Cruz, who recently lambasted Twitter boss Jack Dorsey at a congressional committee hearing, said in June that he had joined Parler because social networks use their power "to silence conservatives and promote their radical left-wing agenda".

media caption"Who put you in charge of what the media are allowed to report?": Twitter's Jack Dorsey is quizzed by Senator Ted Cruz

Tweeting on Sunday, Mr Levin encouraged his followers to "hurry" and join Parler because "I may not stay at Facebook or Twitter if they continue censoring me".

But technology analyst Benedict Evans questioned how long-standing such a shift would be.

"How many core Trump voters will now think that Fox is too left-wing and Twitter or Facebook too controlled?" he said.

"And even if that's a lot of people, will these stick - or will the scale effect of the mainstream networks pull them back?"

US election: World leaders who haven't congratulated Biden

 

Joe Biden meets Vladimir Putin - 2011 pictureIMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS
image captionRelations between Washington and Moscow were frosty when Vice-President Biden met President Putin in 2011

With Joe Biden projected to win the US presidential elections on Saturday, many world leaders hastened to congratulate him on his victory.

But not everyone has been so keen - in fact some have been conspicuous in their absence. Here are some key international figures who have not sent messages of support or who have appeared lukewarm in their congratulations.

Some have gone even further, congratulating Mr Trump or backing unsubstantiated claims he has made about voter fraud. At least one minister has paid for his remarks with his job.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Four years ago Mr Putin was among the first to congratulate Donald Trump on his election victory, but there has been no tweet, telegram or phone call to Mr Biden this time.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reason for the delay was the legal challenges being launched by the Trump campaign.

"We believe the correct thing to do would be to wait for the official election result," he told reporters.

But the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says there is a suspicion that the lack of congratulations reflects the fact that Moscow is not excited by the outcome.

Mr Biden is a vocal critic of Moscow and recently identified Russia as the biggest threat to America.

Mr Trump has rarely criticised Russia or Mr Putin, and Russia was accused of interfering in the 2016 election to get Mr Trump elected.

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa

Janez JansaIMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS
image captionMr Jansa has shown support for Mr Trump in the past

Mr Jansa has made no secret of his support for Mr Trump, even tweeting his congratulations to the incumbent president on Wednesday, long before the vote counts were anywhere near completion.

Since then he has repeated allegations of voter fraud carried out by Democrats.

On Saturday, he appeared more conciliatory, describing the US as Slovenia's strategic partner and said that friendly relations would remain whoever was president.

But he has still not offered any congratulations to Mr Biden.

Mr Jansa, from the far-right anti-immigration Slovenian Democratic Party, is an ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has also expressed support for Mr Trump in the past.

Mr Trump's wife Melania is Slovenian.

Other Slovenian leaders, including President Borut Pahor, have congratulated Mr Biden, as has Mr Orban.

Estonian Interior Minister Mart Helme

Mr Helme announced his resignation on Monday after he and his son, Finance Minister Martin Helme, made allegations about widespread fraud in the US election on a radio talk show on Sunday.

Mr Helme senior also repeated unsubstantiated corruption allegations against Mr Biden and his son Hunter.

His son said that "all normal people should speak up" about the alleged falsifications.

"There is no point in talking about any kind of democracy or the rule of law if elections can be so rudely, so blatantly and massively rigged," he added.

Both are members of the far-right Conservative People's Party, of which Mr Helme junior is also the leader. The party is in a coalition with the Centre Party and another right-wing party,

Prime Minister Juri Ratas has criticised the two politicians, and has congratulated Mr Biden.

But he stopped short of sacking them, critics argue, because he relies on their party's support to stay in power.

Mr Helme senior said he was resigning because of the "slander" he was facing in the Estonian media.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

Mr Bolsonaro is often considered to be an ally of Mr Trump, so much so that he has been described as the "Trump of the Tropics".

media captionJair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump swap football shirts in the Oval Office

The Brazilian leader's failure so far to congratulate Mr Biden, therefore, comes as no surprise.

He has crossed swords with the former vice-president in the past, describing his call during an election debate for the US to push Brazil to protect the Amazon rainforest better as "disastrous and unnecessary".

Brazilian media reports quoting government sources suggested Mr Bolsonaro planned to wait until Mr Trump's legal challenges were completed before addressing the issue.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

Mr Lopez Obrador is another Latin American leader who has tried to maintain good relations with Mr Trump, despite tensions over the US president's hardline policy on migrants and in particular his pledge to build a wall along the two countries' border.

The Mexican leader has therefore been cautious about the US election, and on Sunday said he would wait for "all legal issues" to be resolved.

"We don't want to be imprudent. We don't want to act lightly," he said at a news conference, adding that Mexico had a "very good relationship" with both candidates.

Mr Lopez Obrador's equivocal position has drawn criticism from several senior US Democrats, with Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro describing it as "stunning diplomatic failure".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu and Joe Biden in 2010IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS
image captionMr Netanyahu said Joe Biden was a big friend of Israel

Mr Netanyahu is another world leader who has never hidden his affinity for Mr Trump.

And while he congratulated Mr Biden, observers have noted the absence of the words "president-elect" and "vice-president-elect" in his message.

""I would like to open with greetings to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. For almost 40 years I have had a personal, long and warm relationship with Joe Biden and I know him as a big friend of the state of Israel," he said in a video statement.

Mr Netanyahu concluded the message by paying tribute to Mr Trump for his friendship towards Israel and him personally, and thanking him for recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital, overturning decades of US policy, and for his hardline stance on Iran.

Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

The Saudi crown prince has congratulated Mr Biden on his election victory - but only on Sunday, 24 hours after the news broke. Other Middle Eastern leaders responded on Saturday.

It was pointed out that Mohammed bin Salman had wasted no time in congratulating Tanzanian President John Magufuli on his re-election that day.

Mr Biden has vowed to reassess relations with Saudi Arabia, in particular over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the civil war in Yemen.

Chinese President Xi Jinping

President Xi sent congratulations to Mr Trump in 2016 the day after his poll victory.

But this time China has so far held off on giving any reaction to the US election results.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin noted Mr Biden's declaration of victory in a briefing on Monday, but said Beijing would watch while "US law and procedures" were followed.

Mr Biden is expected to be more measured and nuanced in his approach to China while maintaining a tough stance.

Mr Trump has sharply criticised China over coronavirus and became involved in a trade war, imposing tariffs on numerous Chinese imports.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

There has been no response to the election result from Mr Kim, indeed as of Monday morning North Korean state media outlets have been silent on the US elections.

However, no mention was made of Donald Trump's 2016 victory until two days after his election.

Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump in Vietnam - February 2019IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS

Mr Trump and Mr Kim have had a stormy relationship, though they have maintained contact through three historical face-to-face meetings.

Mr Biden, though, has described Mr Kim as a thug and says he is not interested in any personal diplomacy with him. The North Korean leader has called Mr Biden "a fool of low IQ".

Arnab Goswami: Bail denied to Republic TV founder arrested in suicide case

 

Arnab Goswami, one of India"s top TV news anchors, sits inside a police van outside a court after he was arrested, at Alibaug town in the western state of Maharashtra, India, November 4, 2020.IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS
image captionMr Goswami was detained last week and remanded to custody for 14 days

The high court in Mumbai has refused to grant bail to top Indian TV news anchor Arnab Goswami, who is under arrest in an abetment to suicide case.

The 47-year-old founder of Republic TV was detained last week and remanded to custody for 14 days.

He is being investigated for his alleged role in the death of an architect who designed his studio.

Mr Goswami and Republic TV network deny allegations he owed money to Anvay Naik, who took his life in 2018.

The case is being closely followed as Mr Goswami is a polarising figure whose contentious broadcasts have earned him loyal viewers as well as critics. His arrest, too, has divided opinion, with many alleging it was politically motivated.

A video aired on Republic TV on Sunday showed Mr Goswami shouting from inside a police van. He alleged that a prison official had attacked him the previous evening, his life was in danger and that he was not allowed to speak to his lawyer.

This happened while he was being transferred to a jail from a makeshift Covid quarantine centre where he had tested negative for the virus.

After Mr Naik killed himself, his wife accused Mr Goswami of not paying his fee. She said her husband had left a suicide note in which he blamed Mr Goswami for his death.

She has been campaigning on social media for the case to be investigated thoroughly. Maharashtra state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh recently ordered a special team to look into the case.

Activists of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hold placards and shout slogans against the Maharashtra state government during a protest over the arrest of Arnab Goswami, news anchor of Indian television channel, in Mumbai, India, 04 November 2020.IMAGE COPYRIGHTEPA
image captionMembers of India's ruling BJP have protested against Mr Goswami's arrest

A police team arrested Mr Goswami from his home in Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, on 4 November. Images showed scuffles taking place between Mr Goswami and the police.

Republic TV has accused the police of "manhandling" Mr Goswami's family members. But the police then accused Mr Goswami of misbehaving with them - they registered a police complaint against him for allegedly assaulting a female police officer.

Mr Goswami is known for his aggressive style of anchoring and questioning. Critics also say that he comes across as sympathetic to right-wing politics in the country.

In recent months, he has been particularly critical of Mumbai police over their handling of the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. He often accused Mumbai police of being lenient in their investigation into the star's death.

He has recently also been critical of the Maharashtra government, which is run by a coalition headed by the Shiv Sena party - a former ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

Republic TV says that Mr Goswami has been targeted over his journalism. Mr Deshmukh said "nobody is above the law".

The Editors Guild of India urged the authorities to "ensure that Goswami is treated fairly and state power is not used against critical reporting by the media".

A host of senior leaders and federal ministers belonging to the BJP have also criticised his arrest, saying it was "an attack on the media's freedom of expression".

But the main opposition Congress party, which is a coalition partner of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, has accused the BJP of "selective outrage". The party said BJP ministers do not speak out when journalists are harassed and arrested by states where it's in power.

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