Digital conglomerate Starboard buys right-wing app Parler

The digital media conglomerate Starboard mentioned Friday it bought the conservative social media website Parler and can briefly take down the app because it undergoes a “strategic assessment.”

The deal got here months after one other acquisition settlement with rapper Kanye West, legally referred to as Ye, collapsed in November.

The phrases of the acquisition weren’t disclosed by both firm. Parler mentioned the deal was concluded on April 7.

Parler caters to right-wing, far proper and libertarian voices and fashions itself as a platform with fewer guidelines in help of free speech. It was briefly booted off the web in 2021 because of its connections to the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol. And its person base stays small.

Starboard, previously referred to as Olympic Media, was based in 2018 and owns different conservative-leaning news websites. In a news launch, Parler referred to as it “the perfect home” for its model and dependable customers.

“The team at Parler has built an exceptional audience and we look forward to integrating that audience across all of our existing platforms.” Starboard CEO Ryan Coyne mentioned in an announcement.

Parler additionally mentioned its CEO George Farmer will step down from his function. He shall be changed by Igor Shalkevich, the corporate’s chief improvement officer.