Parler website partially returns with support from Russian-owned technology firm
With the help of a Russian owned company and internet provider Parler is back online. The Social Network popular with Donald Trump supporters has partially returned on line with a message from its CEO. Parler CEO John Matze online message was accessible over a russina Internet address IP. The messages stated that Parler is in the process of working to restore its functionality and will be accessible online by the end of January.
The network servers and platforms that Parler was using from Amazon and mobile applications distribution from Apple and Google has been cut off. Due to breach of terms agreements between Parler and the major technology firms, Parler has been taken offline temporarily. Parler has yet to deal constructively with the fall out on January 6th violence in the US Capital. The lack of moderation after its users called for violence and posted videos glorifying the attacks on the US Capitol, has led multiple technology firms to take switch actions against the company.
The new internet protocol (IP) address is registered to a Russian firm called DDoS-Guard. The online firm is controlled by two Russian men that provides internet services to Russian companies. The firm specialises in protecting its clients from distributed denial of service attacks infrastructure. DDoS-Guard clients include the Russian ministry of defence as many local media organizations based in Russia. Parler is not the only American company that is using the Russian company to hide and host its services. 8kun, formally named 8chan, has also retained the services of DDoS-Guard in order to protect itself from American scrutiny. It is possible that the web-version of Parler will be back online soon. But since most users prefer the usage on their mobile phones, the banned mobile app from Apple and Google will be inaccessible for a while.
DDoS-Guard was registered in Scotland in 2017 which allows nonresidents to create companies with little background and security checks. The two Russian owners of the company are Aleksei Likhachev and Evgeniy Marchenko, and the partnership under which DDoS-Guard is registered is called ‘Cognitive Could’. Based out of Rostov-on-Don, a Russian city, Marchenko explained that his company hosts thousands of websites that are looking for protection against denial of services type of attacks.
Multiple critics of Parler thought it was ironic that the self described patriots of America and Donal Trump supporters are relying on a Russina company for service. It is also an obvious security threat to the company itself to host its platform that could be easily accessible by Russian government. Russian propaganda has contributed to political divisions in the USA and has implified false narratives about american democracy and elections. Parler has filled a law sued against Amazon on behalf of its 12 million users to fight the restrictions from the tech giant.