Why Deplatforming Parler is Bad

Google and Apple are removing the Parler app for not censoring posts which incite violence.

As a Christian conservative/libertarian this puts me in a tough spot. I don't like that these companies are doing this, but at the same time I'm happy that the major credit card companies and PayPal have cut off payments to PornHub(1). I also think it's okay for bakers to refuse to bake cakes for any reason, religious, bigoted, or otherwise(2). So to stay true to my principles I have to agree these companies are within their rights to do this. Now I will add a big caveat that the CEO of Parler has made some compelling statements regarding double standards(3). This could become a very strong legal case pertaining to any platform that would go a long way to clarifying the role of Section 230 and the bounds of censorship by private companies. But for now, we will have to wait and see how things play out. (Update: Parler has announced a lawsuit against Amazon (3.1))
Freedom of speech, however, is not the main point of this essay. If you want to dive deeper into the issue of monopolies and freedom of speech, the Mises Institute has a very thorough article on the subject which I will link to in the comments(4).
Now the real topic I want to address is what this really means for the future.
It means there is no "live and let live" mentality within Apple or Google. I think this is obvious for news organizations like CNN and Fox News which are in direct competition with each other. But I do think this move by cell phone developers is an important escalation, because the leadership at Apple and Google are so passionate about this issue that they are willing to alienate roughly 39% of their customers(5).
Alienating your customers is normally a bad business decision. But Apple and Google are willing to sacrifice business opportunities because they believe it is worth upholding their values and morals. This is something Christians like Jack Phillips are already familiar with. It's the same mentality, only from the opposite side of the political divide.
While Donald Trump will soon leave the White House, I don’t expect the political divide to improve. Because every time I read Revelation it becomes easier to imagine how the mark of the beast will be implemented and praised by society.(6)
“so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.”-Revelation 13:17
In all of this we are still commanded to, “Love your enemies" and political opponents (Mathew 5:44) but it is important that we recognize the actions by these big tech companies does not bode well for the future of our country’s political divide. It doesn’t matter if you like Trump or not, if you're a Democrat or a Republican, the mission of the church in the US will become more difficult. Christians can still play a role in mending our division, but for that we must prepare, have faith, and “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”-Philippians 2:12

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