PayPal Bans Social Network Gab.com After Synagogue Attacker Revealed As User
October 28, 2018 in News by RBN Staff
Source: www.zerohedge.com
by Tyler Durden
The shooter, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, posted anti-Semitic and anti-Trump rhetoric over Gab, which bills itself as the “home of free speech” due to the minimal censorship employed by the site. Shortly before the shooting, he posted a message to Gab which condemns the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) which he wrote “likes to bring invaders in that kill our people,” before writing: “Screw your optics, I’m going in.”
Following the shooting, Gab quickly removed Bowers’ account and sent all information to the FBI and DOJ. Torba then issued a full statement confirming the alleged attacker’s presence on the site, and noting that Gab had taken immediate action – unlike other social media platforms.
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.
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.
That apparently wasn’t enough for PayPal (which, we would note, didn’t sever ties with Facebook despite Bowers’ presence on the site, or Instagram after it was revealed that Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz posted pictures of weapons to the network).
In a letter addressed to Gab CEO Andrew Torba, PayPal wrote: “We are hereby notifying you that we are terminating our relationship with your pursuant to PayPal’s User Agreement. Under the PayPal User Agreement, PayPal, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to terminate your account for any reason and at any time upon notice to you.”
Torba was ordered to remove “all references to PayPal.”
Perhaps Torba was banned after he spoke ill of Big Tech:
Gab’s blacklisting has not gone unnoticed:
Others were happy to see Gab get the “Alex Jones” treatment, including “The world’s youngest hedge fund manager” Jacob Wohl, who called for a police state with the suggestion that “Law enforcement agencies should embed thousands of undercover accounts on the site and establish watchlists.”
Alternatively, Gab has a “mute” feature.