Epik and Parler

[DomainBanana]

My focus in this forum is to learn and improve with domains, not to create conflict.

Based on the feedback I've received about this post, I think it's best to remove my comments from this thread and stay focused on domains.

Thanks

 

[Grego85]

Good on Epik.
Anyone who is on here supporting censorship, learn to think for yourself, You are a tool and a moron!

 

[Rob Monster]

The folks at Parler are on a journey. And like all of us, they are a work in progress.

In the meantime, as some are aware, Parler.com showed up at Epik without notice or invitation. We have since started to get to know them. Whether Parler's platform comes back online is not known. For now, they have started to inventory the task in the wake of a brutal and coordinated takedown by Big Tech.

As for what comes next, I do think humanity deserves better. Two wrongs don't make a right. Related comments:

(1) an open letter posted before Parler arrived: https://www.epik.com/official/parlerstatement

(2) an update post domain move: https://www.epik.com/official/parlerupdate/

The key message that I will give you, is one that is that Epik has thoughtfully and fearlessly engaged both the far right and the far left for the last 2 years. We have done so with optimism, humility and compassion, appealing to the higher self of each person that is placed into our path.

The approach of constructive and transparent engagement has been a consistent theme as a way of countering hate and fear. Censorship will drive people to platforms like Telegram where there is little moderation, no surveillance, and where intolerance is too readily allowed to feed on itself.

For those who support Draconian deplatforming and unconditional censorship, know that unilateral control of all narrative is a proven recipe for spawning a vast number of Timothy McVeighs. As I have encountered some of these types in the past, that would very likely be the road to hell.

Open communities with capable 24/7 moderators that enforce guidelines for acceptable use, within the bounds of the governing law, are a viable and proven path forward.

 

[Compassion]

I'm talking about supporting and enabling hate, .

In that case, ...........better shutdown Fox, CNN, MSNBC and the AP

 

[Rob Monster]

Parler.com is back online with a 1 page lander. We are NOT the host and have no idea if and when their site or apps will come back online. Here is a partial summary links for those trying to keep up.

####

CNN information regarding Epik:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/17/tech/parler-back-online


Truth about AWS deplatforming and our work countering hate:

https://uncoverdc.com/2021/01/14/exclusive-epiks-advice-to-parler/

https://www.theepochtimes.com/parlers-website-back-online-with-a-message-from-its-ceo_3660235.html

https://www.newsmax.com/politics/parler-social-media-amazon-conservative/2021/01/14/id/1005609/

http://www.christianitydaily.com/ar...rler-finds-new-host-after-amazon-takedown.htm

https://dailycaller.com/2021/01/14/...-domain-policy-guidance-standard-free-speech/

https://www.theepochtimes.com/web-hosting-service-epik-parler-hasnt-contacted-us_3653132.html


Cooperation to reduce racism and discrimination:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...7a71ac-580a-11eb-a931-5b162d0d033d_story.html

https://www.wsj.com/articles/pro-tr...hutdown-over-violent-racist-posts-11610819176


Past efforts in directly combatting Racism:

www.epik.com/blog/fightinghate


Check out the five points at the bottom of this page if you want real truth:

www.epik.com/blog/mashable


Check out the truth about SPLC’s attack on us:

www.epik.com/blog/splc


Read for yourself our encouragements to PayPal to stop creating hardships for the underserved:

www.epik.com/blog/paypal


See firsthand how the media attempted to manufacture Epik as being the home of the Proud Boys:

www.epik.com/blog/fakenews

 

[The Grinch]

Even if a small percentage openly incite physical violence, the entire network is a platform for racists, bigots, and hate.

Grow up.

 

[YairDD]

Good for Epik, I think trump is fucking insane, but it's not about Trump, It's about a bunch of people that want to talk and discuss their political views. There are racist people that incite violence everywhere. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, I don't see the difference between those platforms. Only a small percentage of people who use Parler incite violence.

 

[JB Lions]

Some people here (like the post, preceding you)
Dont care about censorship
just projection, of their Political Bias.

Go Epik!

You like to lie a lot, I point out reality. You guys run around talking about GD, FB, Twitter etc. and say go to these other places that also have a TOS they enforce.

So GoDaddy kicks a site for violating the TOS = outrage

Epik or Gab or somebody else does the same thing = silence

----------------------

Reading the article some more, seems owner has no control of the place. Owner said he's getting death threats and one of his "powerful" mods controls the code:

"The owner of the domain TheDonald.Win, Jody Williams, said he has been trying for months to purge a surging tide of violent, racist and anti-Semitic postings, an effort he said has triggered multiple daily death threats from censored posters against him and his family. Mr. Williams said a small cluster of the site’s most powerful moderators—including one who controls its code—have thwarted his efforts to rein in such content even as it grew over the last 10 months."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...aces-possible-shutdown/ar-BB1cOtaE?li=BBnb7Kz

 

[karmaco]

Good for Epik if they stay true to their word and deplatform accordingly. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean you can plan coups, make threats, carry out those threats and promote white supremacy and hate speech. Your free speech ends and becomes criminal when you encourage and plan with others to over take a government, partake in hate crimes, threaten to kill people, etc.

You can’t reason with a cult. Look at how they were threatening the site owner. Learn more about what freedom of speech really means.

Freedom of speech and expression, therefore, may not be recognized as being absolute, and common limitations or boundaries to freedom of speech relate to libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, incitement, fighting words, classified information, copyright violation, trade secrets, food labeling, non-disclosure agreements, the right to privacy, dignity, the right to be forgotten, public security, and perjury.

 

[Intelliname]

The WSJ article was poorly worded. The quotes were massively out of context. The conversation focused on the polarization techniques being employed by media outlets almost universally to split everyone impacted between two unique trains of thought. The emphasis was on the pathway to reconcile that for unity and healing. These are the hopes of nearly everyone working for major media, especially those that have fallen victim themselves to playing bad actors in the marching orders from their senior executives. You can hold whatever political opinion you choose, but the impact has been dramatic and very real. Until you have watched a major news anchor crying on set saying over and over "I don't want to do this anymore", you really cannot understand the damage a handful of people have created to preserve their wealth and status. CNN reporters don't want to be hated, anymore than Fox celebrities want to spend the rest of their lives needing executive protection services.

The points of racism and white supremacists I believe may have been added in post-interview by higher editorial positions to fit a specific narrative. There was no discussion of it, as the harshest elements of The Donald are more attributed to extreme emotional passion for country and liberty, and the frustrations that a tiny fraction may hold towards what they believe are their responsibilities in the presence of mass government failure. There are many people needing hope and optimism, as they have been targeted and subjected to intentional media bubbles that look almost purpose-built to incite anger and hatred. We must address these as a country openly and honestly, without the labels of convenience that have been strategically used simply to galvanize voting blocks. A four year election cycle has had horrific consequences on both America and the people that make up our magnificent country.

I believe the intention of Wall Street Journal, as ourselves, was for them to reinforce the importance of The Donald coordinating better moderation. It did come off very heavy handed though. They were not attacking the community, but detailing the reality of possible outcomes as major platform operators see a ton of fake content posted on their platforms. Some of this was designed to serve as a demonstration of why further liberties should be taken away from the public. It is nothing less than the transparent manufacturing of violence-inciting propaganda by third party activist groups, for the sake of being able to illustrate violence-inciting material. It should be very concerning, as is the motivations of those who have been tasked to coordinate it. Especially seeing how a positive relationship between Parler and Amazon Web Services can see near instant termination over a weekend, while AWS is announcing support of its new client Twitter almost at the exact same time.

Welcome to the world of technology, where an expanded relationship even between GoDaddy and PayPal can result in instant service termination, two weeks of libelous accusations, and a world moved one step closer to centralized power, narrative and control for a small group of people. For those who have actively criticized our transparency in the past, it will not be long before you recognize that we were trying to give you an indication of how these actions will eventually impact you, whether you want to believe it or not.

For the record, the WSJ author is largely respected by many, and if you can envision it, took a very heavy approach to ensure TheDonald could change their course before the dialogue shifted to one being initiated from a legal position. With respects to how Epik was utilized to deliver that, I have expressed my disappointment, but I am confident that truth will prevail. Sometimes these decisions are simply down to deadlines, and juggling multiple articles and responsibilities at once while the circus goes on.

As an example of how easily context can be lost:

“TheDonald absolutely has important minds and critical views reflecting the state of our country, especially in their calls in ensuring that political corruption and malfeasance is recorded and archived by people who absolutely love this nation. It is critical that their moderators step up their game, and recognize that they are in part under attack by people posting fake hate pieces. So they can remove them to avoid legal backlash by either the FBI or the DOJ that would then be out of our control. If they were forcefully made to be legally shutdown, once they are gone from Epik, it would be hard for them to get service anywhere. They are working through it day and night though, and deleting thousands of posts that are only being uploaded to make it look like the website and their community is inciting violence”.


WSJ translation:

“they’re gone from Epik and it will be hard for them to get service anywhere.”


Hardly reflective of the spirit of the conversation. Or truthfully where the heart is of their writer.

 

[MapleDots]

There's a difference between free speech and a private company that welcomes hatred and bigotry.

Censor the hate, not the platform.

Epik, Gab & Parler are not hate, only people hate and therefore we must educate people.

 

[JB Lions]

Finally the way it should be, no big forum debates, instead a link to an official company post.

Epik is getting it right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You think getting political is getting it? They should have stopped at the first paragraph. They went on for another 9.

"Now suddenly our nation has the audacity to believe the actions of January 6th are any different from those that we have all witnessed over the past seven months."

 

[kam]

There is a powerful tool named fear, elites using it to control others. Censorship is one of its kinds. Fear leads to rage and hate. The raged people fight back by giving out more fear and hate. This is what happening now.
Most people see the rage people fight back and leads to chaos but they just ignore the root cause. Without love, this is a never-ending story.

 

[Chris Hydrick]

Wikipedia is not credible,

Any “changes” of already (poor) epik depiction. Sad!

Get a new epik writer! One who is not an leftist activist.
This exposed lack of Wiki credibility, chain of command.

You Epik fanbois have been beating that Wikipedia drum for a while now; very much so out of tune at that.

And even after that atrocious attempt to steer the ship back on course following some poor executive decisions, more epik executives double downed on irrelevant crazy conservative conspiracy arguments and attacks by launching a Epik/Wikipedia assault.

As is, I'm really not sure what there is to contest about the wikipedia article.

Epik is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar and web hosting company known for providing services to websites that host far-right, neo-Nazi, and other extremist content. It was described in 2019 by Vice as "a safehaven for the extreme right" because of its willingness to host far-right websites that have been denied service by other Internet service providers.[1][7] Epik was founded in 2009 by Rob Monster, and is based in Washington State.[2]

Sure, some things can be added. But with the way things have been going about, it's almost like Epik would only be happy if they could push their beliefs onto the Epik wikipedia page, which I assume would sound something like....

Epik is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar and web hosting company known for providing services to websites undergoing assaults on their first amendment right of free speech. It was described on Gab "as safehaven for free speech" because of its willingness to host the most vile of websites that have been denied service by other Internet service providers.[1][7] In essence, Epik is the last stance, holding the ground between what is acceptable free speech, and what is free speech. Above all else, Epik is known as being cyber patriots. Epik was founded in 2009 by Rob Monster, and is based in Washington State.[2]

If I were an Epik fanboi who struggled with finding the beat, I would consider recalibrating and adjusting my attention away from the losing Wikipedia spat and refocus bridge-building or fighting the SPLC write up.

I say losing Wikipedia spat because it seems to me that at some point epik began (and perhaps still is) trying to make those of the far right into patriots, and those on the far left (antifa) into domestic terrorists. And now after the capitol incident and shifting political climates, the domestic terrorists argument is less about Antifa, and more about the proud boy far right/QAnon movement (which some call patriots). With some of these patriots being closer to Karens, falsely accusing their wrong doing on the other side, further stirring the pot of privilege.

Citing Epiks Tweet on this matter. Making the case it's Epik v. Antifa when it was really Epik v. SPLC.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1083755112269598720

Rant continued, and maybe I've been lead astray by exploring the notion that epiks digital plight is more about protecting free speech, and less about politics (although it's hard to see that seeing how far epik is aligned to right-wing politics in most of their PR statements, really seemingly like they are banking/playing into some grand antitrust lawsuit) I don't think it's fair for a digital service provider to be judged/executed for an intent that might have been lost in translation. Rather than attempting to burn every bridge down, and turn everything to an us against them civil war type atmosphere, perhaps there could be some discourse, less name calling, and more collaboration. Maybe too late now as this war has been ongoing for quite some time, and both parties may be too proud to reconcile. Perhaps I just fear the worst if all this rhetoric and divisiveness continues.

I don't think Rob Monster or Epik are racist. I feel a little sense of wanting to protect the black sheep that is Epik, when I see them getting grilled in the media or by social media trolls, almost as If I have grown to recognize Epik as a needed fixture to allow free speech / digital crimes to be documented as evidence and let due process and human nature/society/GovDomainSeizure play it out.

That feeling of wanting to defend Epik typically fades when I read one of Epiks political statements that reads to me like attempting to add fuel to the dumpster fire that is. Almost as if Epik so badly wants to be a patriot/civil/holy war hero, that they are using the political landscape to abuse their power/platform as a domain registrar, to further their political/religious beliefs through the incitement lies, misinformation and chaos. Forgetting the fact that both Antifa members and QAnon/Proud boys are both largely Americans at heart. Albeit each party attempting to demonize the other, thus further fueling the flames.

Some folks may agree with Don Jr.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1348645064008982529

,

But I don't. And am glad to live in a country that has built such strong tech companies who have the ability to exercise and uphold their ToS without fear of unjust government interference.

The alternative is what FaceGov, GovMail, or GovDaddy that erupts into total chaos every change of administration? Not to say that there aren't those who already firmly believe the US GVT ties to FaceBook, GoDaddy and GMail aren't already one in the same, but at least there is a buffer, and each company adheres to applicable laws while maintaining uniquely different ToS.

 

[oldtimer]

@Rob Monster ,

Keep up the good job Rob,

Put a little something on Epik's homepage that says something like:


"We Fight for Free Speech"

But

"We Also Fight Against Hateful Speech"


The kind of Speech that encourages people to cause harm to others.

Problem Solved.

As I have said before I personally like to hear what all sides have to say as long as they conduct themselves in a civilized and professional manner.

IMO

 

[Rob Monster]

Part of being a resilient registrar is having functioning and intelligent abuse and compliance departments that navigates the balance between what domain owners want and what policy requires.

Part of being a resilient registrar is having a relationship with clients, knowing their heart and their intentions so that when mistakes happen, it is possible to discern whether to extend grace or accommodation.

Those who take these things lightly, do so at their own risk. Epik does not treat this duty lightly and indeed it is a lot more work to actually care, versus blindly and robotically enforcing soulless policy.

 

[wwwweb]

Guys I think you jumped the gun epik has put out a statement they have not signed them up for hosting. If they choose to move a domain there, not much they can do about it.

https://www.epik.com/blog/parlerstatement

 

[lambo.com]

https://domainnamewire.com/2021/01/11/parler-com-domain-moves-to-epik/

They can choose not to host the domain, as any other ethical registrar would.

#ethicalsupremacism

 

[MapleDots]

Guys, please, check our Parler Statement.

https://www.epik.com/blog/parlerstatement

Finally the way it should be, no big forum debates, instead a link to an official company post.

Epik is getting it right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JB Lions]

I never heard anything about Parler enabling hate.

Do you understand mainstream companies not wanting anything to do with sites that have kidnapping, murder, inciting violence type stuff? And that kind of content I imagine is against the TOS?

 

[Jeffrey]

Parler, the social network that has been the meeting place for bigots, racists, and many who promote physical violence and hate, moved its domain to Epik today.

I sincerely hope Epik thinks carefully and chooses not to support and enable organizations that breed anger, hate, and violence.

There are also bunch in Twitter who incite violence mostly from deranged leftists. Even Democrat politicians who calls violence on conservatives are still there. Iranian politicians who incites violence on the Jews are still on Twitter. Don't be insecure. Stop the hypocrisy.

CNN entitled one of their news coverage about BLM and Antifa violence as "Mostly peaceful protest" with the reporter's background a burning building.

Antifa and BLM violence has cost at least $1 Billion in damages. Stop the hypocrazy.

 

[JB Lions]

I saw that coming

but if it does happen, Epik won't be able to say much about its Wikipedia heading

"Epik is an ICANN-accredited domain registrar and web hosting company known for providing services to websites that host far-right, neo-Nazi, and other extremist content. It was described in 2019 by Vice as "a safehaven for the extreme right" because of its willingness to host far-right websites that have been denied service by other Internet service providers."

If anything, the heading will be amplified.

Wikipedia already updated with recent events using this article as a source - https://mashable.com/article/parler-domain-name-epik/

Also, in that article the explanation on why Amazon dropped them.


Dear Amy,

Thank you for speaking with us earlier today.

As we discussed on the phone yesterday and this morning, we remain troubled by the repeated violations of our terms of service. Over the past several weeks, we’ve reported 98 examples to Parler of posts that clearly encourage and incite violence. Here are a few examples below from the ones we’ve sent previously: [See images above.]

Recently, we’ve seen a steady increase in this violent content on your website, all of which violates our terms. It’s clear that Parler does not have an effective process to comply with the AWS terms of service. It also seems that Parler is still trying to determine its position on content moderation. You remove some violent content when contacted by us or others, but not always with urgency. Your CEO recently stated publicly that he doesn’t “feel responsible for any of this, and neither should the platform.” This morning, you shared that you have a plan to more proactively moderate violent content, but plan to do so manually with volunteers. It’s our view that this nascent plan to use volunteers to promptly identify and remove dangerous content will not work in light of the rapidly growing number of violent posts. This is further demonstrated by the fact that you still have not taken down much of the content that we’ve sent you. Given the unfortunate events that transpired this past week in Washington, D.C., there is serious risk that this type of content will further incite violence.

AWS provides technology and services to customers across the political spectrum, and we continue to respect Parler’s right to determine for itself what content it will allow on its site. However, we cannot provide services to a customer that is unable to effectively identify and remove content that encourages or incites violence against others. Because Parler cannot comply with our terms of service and poses a very real risk to public safety, we plan to suspend Parler’s account effective Sunday, January 10th, at 11:59PM PST. We will ensure that all of your data is preserved for you to migrate to your own servers, and will work with you as best as we can to help your migration.

- AWS Trust & Safety Team

 

[Gube]

Does Epik provide the same protections for Free Speech equally for all sides or not,

I would say yes, but it all depends on the content.
Also, sometimes, they don't even know what they host because the users don't host on Epik "directly" (I think I should better not say here how these people use Epik to host things which can be considered abusive, and are likely abusive) but it's not that complicated, anyone could do it as long as they know the trick. Epik knows it and these users know it too.

For example, Gab has both sides; It has been relatively down/slow lately but that's because their user base grew way too fast and they couldn't prepare for that

 

[JB Lions]

Just saw this pop up, it was a story on my homepage/start page, MSN.com:

"Robert Davis, senior vice president of Epik Inc., told The Wall Street Journal his firm warned TheDonald.Win it might be dropped within days if it fails to better cull what he said are discussions glorifying violence, propagating white supremacy and fomenting extremism.

"They need to recognize the critical role they play as an inspirational place rather than a hotbed of extremism,” Mr. Davis said. “Epik has no tolerance for anything that incites hate or violence.” If the site didn’t fix the problem speedily, he added, “they’re gone from Epik and it will be hard for them to get service anywhere.

TheDonald.Win has been identified by law enforcement and analysts as an important online staging platform for the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol that federal prosecutors are investigating as a seditious act and President-Elect Biden characterized as domestic terrorism. Recent posts on the forum viewed by the Journal have included further calls for violence, including a threat to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about which the FBI was informed, according to people familiar with the matter.............

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...aces-possible-shutdown/ar-BB1cOtaE?li=BBnb7Kz

 

[Save Breach]

Epik is censorship resistant, and I think that's a cool thing. I don't want to know what Parler is/was, but I do know for a fact that Epik is against censorship and doesn't engage in unfair practices which the big bullies like AWS and GoDaddy take part in.

If you are against it, then my friend you have no idea what internet censorship is and how the bigger companies operate by effectively censoring content based on political views and so on, to serve their own interests.

Cheers