Amazon’s removal of Parler shows cloud unit’s rarely used power

Amazon’s move to cut off Parler is a reminder that the company wields huge influence over what is seen on the Internet. — Reuters

The decision by Amazon.com Inc’s cloud unit to pull the plug on social-media service Parler highlighted the company’s often-overlooked role powering much of the Internet.

Parler went offline late Sunday after Amazon Web Services suspended its account, a potentially crippling blow for the site favoured by right-wing extremists, some of whom advocated violence ahead of last week’s riot at the US Capitol. In a letter to Parler seen by Bloomberg, Amazon said the company was unable to effectively keep calls for violence off its platform. The site on Monday sued Amazon, seeking to reverse the action and get back online.