Rightwingers flock to 'alt tech' networks as mainstream sites ban Trump

App stores' top downloads feature social media platforms pitched to Trump supporters or offering encryption

Following the banning of Donald Trump and many prominent followers on mainstream social media platforms, and Amazon's withdrawal of web hosting from Parler, rightwingers have fled to an archipelago of smaller alt tech" sites and services that promise less content moderation or a refuge from the prying eyes of their political opponents and law enforcement.

On Tuesday, on Apple's App Store and Google's Play store, apps, services, and social networking platforms that either directly pitch themselves to Trumpists as a free speech alternative, or which allow them to enjoy encrypted communications, were dominating the list of the most downloaded apps.