Robert Bowers & Gab: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Robert Bowers & Gab: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know Andrew Torba, Gab founder and G...

Robert Bowers & Gab: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Andrew Torba, Gab founder and Gab member, alleged Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers.

So-called free speech social network site Gab was shut down by its host provider for a while Saturday night. The site, home of the alt-right, neo-Nazis, white nationalists, and people who claim that the site provides a place for the free flow of speech and ideas, has been under fire for its acceptance of hate speech.

Gab came under fire Saturday as one of its members, Robert Bowers, was charged with the mass murder of 11 people at a Jewish community center and synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Bowers has not tried to hide his antisemitism.

On the contrary, he’s been vocal and public about his hatred for Jews. And he had, emphasis on had, a place to share those ideas, a place where he was met with some who were liked-minded. On Gab, Bowers was welcome, or at least his ideas were not enough to throw him off the site since it’s supposed to be a place for free speech. Or at least that’s its claim.

But when it was revealed that Gab member Bowers was the alleged gunman responsible for the slaughter of 11 people and the injuring of many more, including law enforcement officers, Gab banned him and issued a statement on Medium. And it said reported Bowers to the FBI, after the incident. It did not report Bowers before. And it found his speech, filled with venom and hate, his right and gave him a home.

Gab is under fire. But it’s been under fire before. And as of Saturday night, its host, Joyent has shut it down.

“Gab has until 9 a.m. Sunday to Gab’s new hosting provider, has just pulled our hosting service. They have given us until 9am on Monday to find a solution. Gab will likely be down for weeks because of this. Working on solutions. We will never give up on defending free speech for all people.”

Here’s what you need to know about Gab:

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1. Robert Bowers Was on Gab & There, He Posted Hate Speech Directed at Jews

“Jews are the children of Satan,” Bowers posted.

A post that Robert Bowers shared on Gab

The Anti-Defamation League posted, “If this Gab post is indeed from the alleged #PittsburghSynagogue shooter Robert Bowers, it suggests he is not merely an anti-Semite, but a dedicated white supremacist as well. #Pittsburgh #SynagogueShooting.”

2. Gab Issued a Statement Condemning Bowers

Calling itself an “ad-free social network for creators who believe in free speech, individual liberty, and the free flow of information online,” Gab denounced the alleged actions of Bowers, a Gab member. In its statement, it did not reference his anti-Semitism but instead said its policy against acts of terror are clear: “We a have zero tolerance for it.”

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“Gab unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence. This has always been our policy. We are saddened and disgusted by the news of violence in Pittsburgh and are keeping the families and friends of all victims in our thoughts and prayers.”

And meanwhile on the site:

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The site, founded by Andrew Torba, and from whom the statement likely came, said, “Shortly after the attack, Gab was alerted to a user profile of the alleged Tree of Life Synagogue shooter. The account was verified and matched the name of the alleged shooter’s name, which was mentioned on police scanners. This person also had accounts on other social networks.”

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“Gab took swift and proactive action to contact law enforcement immediately. We first backed up all user data from the account and then proceeded to suspend the account. We then contacted the FBI and made them aware of this account and the user data in our possession. We are ready and willing to work with law enforcement to see to it that justice is served.”

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“We have nothing but love for all people and freedom. We have consistently disavowed all violence. Free speech is crucial for the prevention of violence. If people can not express themselves through words, they will do so through violence. No one wants that. No one.”

3. Saturday, After the Synagogue Mass Shooting, PayPal Pulled the Plug. Microsoft Did The Same in August

Paypal jumped ship. Apple and Google both declined to make its app available as the site violated both tech behemoths’ TOS on hate speech. But losing PayPal cuts into the bottom line: revenue. Some said forget PayPal, it’s all about crypto.

And Gab had its site removed by Microsoft in August for anti-Semitic content.

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Torba said at the time Microsoft gave Gab 48 hours to remove two posts or be shuttered. The alternative site includes far-right extremism and violent white nationalistic rhetoric and propaganda, which the First Amendment protects, Torba and Gab users argue.

Indeed, previous reports on Gab and its denizens led to a torrent of complaints to this reporter to make sure to frame the site as a place where people can speak freely. And indeed they do. It’s what some say that many see as hate speech and often, incitement. That notwithstanding, Gab chose Microsoft as its host and Microsoft agreed.

4. Disturbing Anti-Semitic Content in Part Was at the Root of Some Big Tech Moves to Ban Gab

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Be forewarned that the posts, shared by the neo-Nazi and white nationalist extremist Patrick Little, who says the Holocaust never happened and seeks Jewish genocide, on the Gab website were especially vile and triggering. Even some Gab users admit that, though argue he should be allowed to say what he wants.

Little, who had a failed Congressional bid against Democrat Sen. Diane Feinstien, is from California but is looking to set up in Idaho where he think’s he’ll find more like-minded kin: “This area has a reputation as a home to people with the moral courage to recognize the consequences of diversity.”

There is no room for doubt about Little’s deep-seated antisemitism. Little posted to Gab this past summer.

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5. Gab &amp Torba Were Not Pleased With Coverage by Heavy in the Past

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Gab founder, white supremacist Torba, a Trump supporter who claimed on Facebook to have “helped meme a President into office, cucks,” created Gab as a so-called free speech platform.

When Heavy described the site as being a haven for the alt-right, as reported by Slate, neo-Nazi’s as reported by Newsweek, white supremacists, as reported by Vice, anti-Semites, as reported by Newsweek, and the like, Torba tweeted this reporter, who he described as a “sophist piece of trash.” The story was from Ap ril about white nationalist and anti-Semite Paul Nehlen, a previous Gab member, banned from the site, and failed Senate candidate from Wisconsin (he hoped to unseat Speaker Paul Ryan). Moments after the story was published, Torba demanded a “retraction.”

Gab tweet response to Heavy story

He did not get one; the story stands.

Source: Google News | Netizen 24 United States