By: Kyle James | 10-28-2018 | News
Photo credit: gab.ai

PayPal Bans Social Network "Gab" After Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting

The global money distribution platform PayPal co-founded by billionaire Elon Musk targeted an up and coming social media app following the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting today. PayPal banned the alternative social media app Gab because one of its users made anti-semitic comments and allegedly announced the attack on the platform. The move is a bold one that is a blow to the free market, how can social media websites ever grow to compete with the "Big Five" tech monopoly if they are targeted over politics?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: <a href="https://t.co/J3Rfto6fi3">https://t.co/J3Rfto6fi3</a> is now banned from Paypal &quot;just because.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VA1NhY5zhr">pic.twitter.com/VA1NhY5zhr</a></p>&mdash; Gab.com🍂 (@getongab) <a href="https://twitter.com/getongab/status/1056283312522637312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The Anti-Defamation League said the attack Saturday was the deadliest single attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history, but why does that warrant banning Gab? The founder of Gab is Andrew Torba, and he has always described the app as a free-speech hub, a haven where free-speech will always be protected.

The suspect in the shooting has been identified as 45-year-old Robert Bowers, a self-proclaimed anti-Semite who alleged announced Saturday's attack on Gab. What about school shooter Nikolas Cruz who announced on YouTube that he was going to become a professional school shooter? YouTube never faced any crippling backlash or was punished in any way for Cruz's actions, yet Gab is being blacklisted for being "far-right."

Related coverage: <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/40565-Active-Shooter-at-Pittsburgh-Synagogue-Leaves-8-Dead">Active Shooter at Pittsburgh Synagogue Leaves 8 Dead</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update: PayPal has cancelled its relationship with social media company <a href="https://twitter.com/getongab?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@getongab</a> in wake of the Pittsburgh <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SynogogueShooting?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SynogogueShooting</a> .. but not Facebook, where he reportedly also had an account.</p>&mdash; scott budman (@scottbudman) <a href="https://twitter.com/scottbudman/status/1056291109893111808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Gab's detractors describe the app as a haven for neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and racists, but free speech is free speech, that is kind of the point. The app has relied on PayPal as one of its primary fundraising services but has now been banned. PayPal told Gizmodo:

<i>"PayPal has canceled the Gab.Ai account. The company is diligent in performing reviews and taking account actions. When a site is explicitly allowing the perpetuation of hate, violence or discriminatory intolerance, we take immediate and decisive action."</i>

PayPal isn't the only company to go after Gab for its politics, another payment processing company called Stripe froze Gab's account earlier this month. This is the kind of pushback that companies who are looking to challenge giants like Facebook are facing and its clearly the signs of a monopoly. When it comes to the tech industry, the Left has the upper hand and attempts to maintain a complete lockdown on political ideology they don't agree with.

Bowers wrote just before the shooting, "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can’t sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics; I’m going in." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also reported the same Gab account had previously threatened HIAS but under a different name. The Previous comment read, "You like to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us? We appreciate the list of friends you have provided."

The account that allegedly belonged to Bowers would frequently call immigrants "invaders", or use the derogative term "deceptive little oven dodger" when responding to another user.

Related coverage: <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/30892-PayPal-Tells-Customer-Her-Death-Was-A-Breach-Of-Contract">PayPal Tells Customer Her Death Was A Breach Of Contract</a>

Gab issues a statement after the shooting saying:

<i>Gab.com’s policy on terrorism and violence have always been very clear: we a have zero tolerance for it. 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.</i>

<i>We refuse to be defined by the media’s narratives about Gab and our community. Gab’s mission is very simple: to defend free expression and individual liberty online for all people. Social media often brings out the best and the worst of humanity. From live streamed murders on Facebook to threats of violence by bombing suspect Cesar Sayoc Jr. that went unaddressed by Twitter, and more. Criminals and criminal behavior exist on every social media platform.</i>

<i>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.</i>

<i>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.</i>

<i>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.</i>

<i>Our user guidelines state:</i>

<i>Threats and Terrorism:

Users are prohibited from calling for the acts of violence against others, promoting or engaging in self-harm, and/or acts of cruelty, threatening language or behavior that clearly, directly and incontrovertibly infringes on the safety of another user or individual(s). We may also report the user(s) to local and/or federal law enforcement, as per the advice of our legal counsel.</i>

<i>Our privacy agreement states:</i>

<i>Information Disclosed for Our Protection and the Protection of Others.

We cooperate with government and law enforcement officials or private parties to enforce and comply with the law. We may disclose any information about you to government or law enforcement officials or private parties as we, in our sole discretion, believe necessary or appropriate: (i) to respond to claims, legal process (including subpoenas); (ii) to protect our property, rights and safety and the property, rights, and safety of a third party or the public in general; and (iii) to stop any activity that we consider illegal or legally actionable activity.</i>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/joyent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@joyent</a> which is the hosting provider of <a href="https://twitter.com/getongab?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@getongab</a> has just banned Gab from using their hosting service.<br><br>This comes after it emerged the terrorist in Pittsburgh had a Gab account, but he also had a facebook account.<br><br>No action has been taken against facebook.</p>&mdash; PeterSweden (@PeterSweden7) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterSweden7/status/1056372914885455873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The hosting provider for Gab has also just banned the app from using their platform. Twitter users were quick to point out how Gab was being punished but no action has been taken toward other social media companies where Bowers also had accounts.

<i>On Twitter:</i>

<a href="https://twitter.com/MAGASyndicate">@MAGASyndicate</a>

Tips? Info? Send me a message!

Source: https://gizmodo.com/paypal-bans-far-right-social-network-gab-after-anti-sem-1830050551

Twitter: #Andrew Torba #Gab #PayPal #ElonMusk #FreeSpeech #Pittsburgh #Shooting #MAGA

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Thoughts on the above story? Comment below!
5 Comment/s
Rage No. 40623 2018-10-28 : 06:02

Here's what i think, Removing support for all who condone and support leftist domestic terrorists, like the ones on twatter as well a global terrorism.

Canceled my paypal. Deleted all apps except Gab. Someone let me know when the playing field levels. Sick to death of this constant crucification of good people. Gab is not responsible for one guys brain fart. Respects, thoughts and prayers to the families of that pigs victims 🙏😕

Anonymous No. 40628 2018-10-28 : 07:14

STYXHEXENHAMMER666… HAS AN EXCELLENT VIDEO ON THIS SUBJECT ON YOUTUBE. HE NAILS THE REAL PROBLEM ON THE HEAD. SILICON VALLEY AND THEIR ISOLATION AND CENSORSHIP ARE RESPOSIBLE FOR CHOKING FREED SPEECH AND PUSHING THE UNSTABLE DEEPER INTO AN ECHO CHAMBER WHERE THEY NEVER HAVE ANY EXOSURE TO REASON AND DEBATE. INSTEAD THEY ARE ENFORCING AND PROVING THE IDEOLOGY THEY HOLD TO BE TRUE BY PUTTING SUCH A CHOKE HOLD ON THE VERY PEOPLE WHO NEED VOICES OF REASON TO HELP DISSUADE SUCH PERSPECTIVES. THAT AND THE MSM HAVE THEIR PART IN THIS PLAYING OUT THUSLY AS WELL. THEY FEED THE LIES THAT PANDER TO CREATING SUCH DARK REALITY IN THE MINDS OF THOSE WHOM SEE CLEARLY THE THREATS THEY IMPOSE ON SOCIETY. PLEASE TAKE A LISTEN TO HIS VIDEO. IT RINGS TRUE AND MAKES PERFECT SENSE. TITLED… I Literally Warned the MSM and Big Tech of a Coming Robert Bowers- Their Censorship is to Blame

Anonymous No. 40630 2018-10-28 : 07:34

I think these corporations know full well what their actions of censorship will inspire. They are putting the boot on the necks of free speech with intention to bring about such atrocities. Mind control used to support their agendas. Just like false flags are staged in order to scream gun control. They create the problem and then impose their desired solutions. They intentionally forcefully gag and bind knowing full well these people teeter tottering on a mental precipice will snap mentally. Its total manipulation with intent.

Anonymous No. 40632 2018-10-28 : 07:42

Gab does not deserve this at all. They are one of the last bastions of constitutionally backed platforms for free speech. Its easy to see who the real Nazis are.

em ie No. 40671 2018-10-28 : 16:45

in the thicker clouds are more concerns than a tiff with a gab solo . cute to watch how quick " a solo is to be used" while one heck of a lot more is on going " way over your little brains and countries. ' {{{ if nets gets torn or zapped that time spent on a solo .]]]]] . JUST STAY SAFE >>> review the sept emergency stuff .. and try not to get in a bind over little gab moments. or little twat moments. etc.. the biggy love that and love the control .. ggogle owns y tube and gmails etc and oh how amazing that in gmail google pre types out a trio of responses that dubiously some -or ai has read every f in letter you type. and that has been going on a long time… // um holographic optical element 1987 . odd to is we forget about the magnatrons in own microwave overs.. , and sure the phone battery's are less explod ' sort of and the push for higher range of tec . earth has its own frequency and so do each of the humans on earth… the acronyms of most of age groups well the lol PLOS is a QL + PWN PSA RTBM asap. thank you gold waters take great care ..

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