Gab Celebrates 8 Years of Unwavering Commitment to Free Speech

Gab’s 8th anniversary marks a significant milestone in the history of online free speech and the preservation of the First Amendment. Since its inception in August of 2016, Gab has consistently allowed for the expression of diverse political opinions and ideas, including those that have been deemed “unpopular” or “fringe” by mainstream media and social media platforms.

This commitment to free speech has had an undeniable impact on shifting the Overton Window, as once taboo topics have gradually become more mainstream and acceptable for public discussion after Gab allowed millions of people to discuss them and learn about them openly without being censored or banned. Over the past eight years, Gab has irreversibly shifted the Overton Window to the right, making once-verboten topics part of the daily mainstream discourse. This includes discussions on the Great Replacement, anti-White hate, criticism of the Israeli lobby, and support for mass deportations among many others. Even five years ago no one would have ever dreamed that mainstream political commentators, members of Congress, and prominent influencers and cultural figures would be openly discussing these topics on a daily basis.

In 2018 and 2019, Gab faced a series of challenges when it was deplatformed from app stores, hosting providers, payment processors, and more. Despite these obstacles, Gab persevered, relying on alternative means of financial support such as checks by mail and bitcoin. It’s crazy to think that we survived as a business by having people mail us physical checks and sending us bitcoin. To this day I don’t think any other tech startup has had to face the level of deplatforming that Gab has faced over the years. We rebuilt everything from scratch including setting up our own physical servers and rebuilding our own internal software tools to do basic operational tasks such as sending emails. This resilience demonstrated the power of determination and the importance of maintaining our principles, even in the face of adversity.

Gab has also been a target of the mainstream media, academic researchers, and activist groups for eight years. For example we were blamed for events such as the January 6th Capitol protest. Despite these accusations, Gab has continued to provide a safe platform for users who feel silenced or marginalized on other social media platforms. This commitment to free speech has been crucial in fostering open dialogue and the exchange of ideas, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Operation Chokepoint, a campaign to restrict financial services to conservative businesses and individuals, targeted Gab shortly after Joe Biden took office. Despite being banned from half a dozen banks, Gab continued to provide a safe haven for medical professionals and dissidents who questioned the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine and its origins. Gab also distributed a religious exemption letter template to millions of people during this time, potentially saving countless lives during the lockdowns and when vaccine mandates became more common.

Gab has consistently refused data requests from foreign governments seeking to dox users for “hate speech” and has taken a stand against censorship and government overreach. Because of this stance we have incurred massive legal fines in foreign countries and I personally cannot travel to these countries without likely being arrested for refusing to comply with censorship or pay the foreign fines.

When Elon Musk acquired Twitter, many people predicted the demise of Gab, but nearly two years later Gab has 40 million unique monthly visitors to its services, double the amount we had when Elon bought Twitter. While X has certainly improved under Elon Musk, the fact remains that Gab is still the only platform on the internet to allow the full protection of 1st Amendment protected speech to not only be posted, but to reach other people as well.

Gab’s recent exposure of the FBI’s Emergency Data Request for the Trump shooter and the sharing of the attacker’s pro-Biden content demonstrates our platform’s commitment to transparency and holding authority accountable. This act of defiance, taken at great personal and business risk, underscores Gab’s unwavering dedication to free speech and the importance of challenging the status quo.

Gab’s survival and growth are a testament to the power of its community. For eight years, Gab has relied on the support of its community to continue its mission of providing a platform for free speech and the exchange of ideas. Gab has faced numerous challenges and obstacles over the past eight years, but has emerged stronger and more committed to its mission. As Gab continues to grow and evolve, it will undoubtedly remain a vital force in the ongoing battle for freedom of speech and the preservation of the First Amendment. Thank you for making that possible.

If you want to support us and help keep Gab operational for many years to come please consider making a donation, upgrading to GabPRO, making a purchase from the Gab Shop, or running ads on Gab for your business.

Andrew Torba
CEO, Gab.com
Christ is King