GoDaddy tells "free speech" social network, Gab, to find a new domain host after shooting

The social networking site, Gab, has been told to look for another domain provider by GoDaddy. The domain provider took the action following complaints that content had been posted which encouraged violence against people, which is a violation of GoDaddy’s Terms of Service agreement.

In a statement to The Verge, GoDaddy said:

“We have informed Gab.com that they have 24 hours to move the domain to another provider, as they have violated our terms of service. In response to complaints received over the weekend, GoDaddy investigated and discovered numerous instances of content on the site that both promotes and encourages violence against people.”

The site, which says it promotes free speech, has attracted lots of criticism for essentially not moderating what content is allowed on the platform. Earlier this year, Microsoft, unhappy that its cloud service was being used to host some of the site’s content, told Gab to take action against malicious activity, which Gab responded to by saying it would become more self-reliant.

In the latest episode, Gab looks defiant, explaining to followers on Twitter that it “will emerge stronger than before” and that the “actions of one man will not take us down.”

In a statement on its website, Gab said that it’s committed to fighting for “the fundamental human right to speak freely” and that it’s transitioning to a new provider. The network’s admins say they’re working around the clock to get back online but only said that the site would be inaccessible “for a period of time”, giving no firm timeframe for when users could begin using the website again.

Over the weekend, PayPal, Medium, Stripe, and Joyent have all stopped doing business with Gab, the moves were prompted after they found out that the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue shooter, Robert Bowers, was a frequent poster to the social network, on which, even ‘gabbed’ that he was “going in.”

No matter which provider Gab finds next, the site is likely to be plagued with similar takedown warnings going forward due to the views it appears to be attracting in the droves.

Via: The Verge