Unveiling Cloud Dominance: The Parler Saga and the Power of Amazon
The recent de-platforming of Parler underscores the immense influence wielded by cloud service providers like Amazon.
While Parler managed to weather being removed from Apple and Google’s app stores, its expulsion from Amazon’s cloud infrastructure effectively rendered it inaccessible on the internet for several days.
This significant event unfolded during the past week, as Amazon severed ties with Parler, a social media platform that gained popularity among conservative circles following Twitter’s ban on former President Donald Trump and its hosting of content promoting violent behavior. Parler responded by initiating legal action against Amazon in federal court, seeking to prevent the suspension of its account. Amazon, in turn, contested Parler’s motion, urging the court to reject it.
The incident highlights the extraordinary power held by Amazon, owing to its dominant position in providing computing and data storage services. According to estimates by technology research firm Gartner, Amazon controlled 45% of the cloud infrastructure market in 2019, surpassing all other competitors. While Parler managed to operate without being available on Apple and Google’s app platforms, its removal from Amazon’s cloud infrastructure effectively disconnected it from the internet for an extended period.
Parler’s technical team had developed software that relied on resources from Amazon Web Services (AWS). Additionally, Parler had been in discussions with Amazon regarding the adoption of proprietary AWS database and artificial intelligence services, as stated in a filing submitted to the district court on Wednesday.
Transitioning to alternative servers or cloud platforms outside of AWS would require a significant investment of time and resources for Parler. Given the urgency of the situation, especially amidst a surge in user activity following Twitter’s ban on Trump, time is of the essence.
While Parler could explore alternative cloud infrastructures or hire developers with expertise in other platforms, the widespread adoption of AWS presents challenges. Individuals proficient in platforms other than AWS, such as Oracle’s cloud, are not as readily available.
The swift action taken by Amazon should not come as a surprise, as companies have previously disclosed the potential risks associated with relying on AWS for essential services. Past instances, such as the termination of agreements with WikiLeaks in 2010, serve as cautionary tales.
Parler’s dependence on AWS, established in 2018, left it vulnerable to such actions. When AWS notified Parler of its intention to suspend its account, citing repeated violations of terms, including inadequate control over content rights, Parler found itself in a precarious position.
Despite the availability of more comprehensive agreements that provide customers with additional time to rectify violations, many large AWS customers remain subject to immediate action in cases of non-compliance.
While other cloud providers impose their own terms and conditions, AWS’s dominance in the market increases the likelihood of similar situations arising for organizations that fail to adhere to its standards.
Parler acknowledged the risks associated with reliance on a single cloud provider but ultimately found the scalability and flexibility offered by cloud services too enticing to overlook. Alexander Blair, Parler’s technology chief, expressed reservations about cloud centralization but recognized AWS’s utility for managing high-burst traffic.
Neither Parler nor Amazon responded immediately to requests for comment.