HOUSTON – After a steady rise in popularity, the social media site Parler disappeared over the course of a weekend. Many media analysts view what happened to the site as a test case for shaping what role big tech may play in policing speech on the internet. Parler was founded in 2018 but exploded in popularity in the run-up to the 2020 election. Laster said she is uncomfortable with large tech companies involved in decisions on what is allowed speech. However, KPRC 2 Legal Analyst Brian Wice said free speech only applies to the government, not private business.