Even before former President Donald Trump was banned from Twitter after the deadly failed insurrection of January 6, conservatives had lamented the supposed liberal bias from major social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook.
As a result, so-called "free speech" outlets have been constantly sprouting up, presenting themselves as the conservative alternative to the alleged tyranny of Big Tech. In addition to previously existing sites like Gab and Parler, former Trump spokesman Jason Miller founded GETTR while MyPillow CEO and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell swears by Frank Speech. Trump himself has promised the imminent arrival of TRUTH Social, a division of his new Trump Media and Technology Group.
But despite touting their emphasis on "free speech," all of these platforms are or will be moderated and users will still have to comply with each site's terms of use—terms of use that seem ripped from the manuals of the Big Tech outlets they brag about opposing.
For instance, GETTR's terms of use states:
"Without limitation, we may, but do not commit to, do so to address content that comes to our attention that we believe is offensive, obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, pornographic, violent, harassing, threatening, abusive, illegal, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate, or to enforce the rights of third parties or these Terms or any applicable Additional Terms."
In an interview last year, Mike Lindell warned that Frank Speech wouldn't allow swearing:
“You don’t get to use the four swear words: the c-word, the n-word, the f-word, or God’s name in vain."
Of course, these are common sense, boilerplate rules, but some far-right users of these sites remain frustrated that they can't spew unmoderated hate speech in the bowels of the internet.
Jon Miller, an employee of right-wing media outlet TheBlaze, is the most recent ex-GETTR user frustrated with the site's basic moderation after trying to use the N-word on his GETTR profile.
In a statement to the Daily Beast, GETTR confirmed this was the reason it banned Miller from its platform:
“Jon Miller was suspended from Gettr because he used the N-word in his profile. This is a clear violation of our terms of service. Gettr defends free speech, but there is no room for racial slurs on our platform.”
Miller ranted on Twitter that he was banned for "no reason."
The “free speech” frauds at @GETTRofficial have suspended me for no reason. I didn’t even use it. I had no posts. Guess I was too critical of them for suspending others? What does it say when the 1st platform to ban me is the one that sells itself as the free speech alternative? pic.twitter.com/x3OWVWuQjv
— JON MILLER (@MillerStream) January 11, 2022
And just like that...conservative cancel culture struck again, as conservative social media users decried the platform.
Gettr removed a blue tick African American for using the N word in his bio 🤣✋
FrEe sPeEcH ((Honeypot)) https://t.co/eYxeNO97wD
— Jess 🍸 (@btcty) January 12, 2022
GETTR is not a free speech platform. They banned Nick Fuentes and Jon Miller for no reason. https://t.co/l6VfM2o8IK
— AngryBirdsPig (@AngryBirdsPig1) January 11, 2022
@JasonMillerinDC and Chinese billionaires are afraid of the conservative base.
— 🇺🇸 (@Networker2020) January 11, 2022
Get off Gettr https://t.co/T64WyiSHVp
— ChadOChads (@chadOchads) January 11, 2022
GETTR is a trap
— Alexander (@infoboogaloo) January 12, 2022
Check who owns Getter and the billionaire behind it! They are NOT for free speech and are NOT conservatives!!! Better get to Gab!
— 🅼🅸🅲🅷🅴🅻🅻🅴 (@mevans2801) January 12, 2022
GETTR's Global Communications Director Ebony Bowden defended the decision.
You're a liar @MillerStream. You did use our platform, and you included the N-word in your profile, a clear violation of our terms of service. GETTR does defend free speech but we've got no room for racial slurs. Bye. https://t.co/op3I35Pxul
— Ebony Bowden (@ebonybowden) January 11, 2022
But the users continued to turn on her and the conservative outlet.
I've deleted my Gettr account and uninstalled it from my phone. Thank you for helping me with this decision.
— Кирилос Димитровос je moje name🇨🇿🇸🇰🇧🇬 (@Mikeike19811) January 12, 2022
So free speech is whatever "I" define as acceptable....very cool. That's all we needed to see. @getongab folks
— Defi M⬡ney G⬡d (@hardmoneyLINK) January 11, 2022
"we defend free speech unless we don't approve of your speech"
sounds like twitter, but with less users.
— DonFault (33.3%) (@DonFAULT6969) January 12, 2022
The consequences of unmoderated online speech have been readily apparent on websites like 4chan and 8kun, where white supremacists posts graphic, racist memes and mass shooters post their manifestos.