Cybersecurity

Mercer-Backed Parler Casts Its Reboot as Fight for Free Speech

Leaked recordings of meetings detail role of Rebekah Mercer at social-media platform

   

Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg
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Conservative donor Rebekah Mercer has been writing checks to finance the social media platform Parler’s reboot, while the company’s leaders have attempted to rally employees by saying they’re engaged in an existential battle against threats to the U.S. and free speech, according to internal recordings of company meetings held in recent months.

“Love it or not, you’re warriors,” interim Chief Executive Officer Mark Meckler said in a meeting on Feb. 8. “This is a war, and you’re in the war, and we’re all going to link arms.”