When sending an email, senders can use what's called the 'Blind Carbon Copy' (abbreviated BCC) on the recipient field. What this feature does, is allowing the senders to conceal anyone whose name or email address is entered in the field.
And Parler, the American alt-tech social networking service, failed to do that in one of its most important moments of its existence.
In one afternoon, Parler, which is popular amongst U.S. conservatives, announced its acquisition by Ye, better known as Kanye West.
To share the news, it send a mass email to hundreds of its VIP members.
But there was a problem: the platform neglected the BCC feature, and practically CC-ed everyone.
This inadvertently revealed the contact information of at least 10 lawmakers and many more famous conservative individuals.
Making things worse, Parler never really informed those people of their "VIP" statuses, meaning that the people in the email had no clue that they are labeled VIPs on the platform, confessing that they had little to no association with the controversial app, let alone wanting or pursuing that special status.
It all started when Kanye West said that he's buying Parler, the right-wing social media app that bills itself as an "uncancelable free speech platform"
This happened a little more than a week after both Instagram and Twitter restricted Ye after his anti-Semitic comments.
Parlement Technologies Inc. as the company that operates Parler, couldn't be happier.
The company announced this in a press release, saying that it had entered in an agreement "in principle" to sell Parler to Ye, and expects to settle on a "definitive purchase agreement" and close the deal later this 2022.
Parlement Technologies is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement in principle for Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, to acquire the Parler platform. The acquisition ensures Parler a future role in creating an uncancelable ecosystem where all voices are welcome. pic.twitter.com/KXdhV71prl
— Parler (@parler_app) October 17, 2022
While the amount of the sale was not disclosed, Parlement Technologies Inc. said that it would continue provide Parler with technical support and cloud services.
Parlement CEO George Farmer said that he welcomed Ye, and his intention to fight for free speech.
"This deal will change the world, and change the way the world thinks about free speech. Ye is making a groundbreaking move into the free speech media space and will never have to fear being removed from social media again," said Farmer, who is the husband of Candace Owens, the right-wing commentator who was pictured with Ye in matching “White Lives Matter” shirts.
"Once again, Ye proves that he is one step ahead of the legacy media narrative. Parlement will be honored to help him achieve his goals."
Parler also published a post about the sale to Ye on the platform, which also include a direct link to Ye’s profile on Parler.
Parler was set up in 2018 as an alternative to Twitter, over claims the social media giant was censoring conservative users.
But after an initial rush, the app struggled to contain its sudden influx, and then again struggled to regain the momentum it had, especially when it was banned by many tech companies.
Donald Trump has launched his own Twitter rival, Truth Social, which has been moderately more successful.
Most conservatives who haven't been banned remain on Twitter, which has more than 200 million active daily users.
This is huge if compared to Parler, that reportedly has only around 50,000 daily users.
In an interview with Bloomberg, Ye indeed said that his motivation to acquire Parler is because of of Instagram and Twitter that locked him out.
Ye explained that by acquiring Parler, his platform would be for "for the people who have been bullied by the thought police to come and speak their mind."
According to Parlement Technologies Inc., Ye’s decision to buy Parler is a "bold stance against his recent censorship from Big Tech."
The company added that the Yet can use his talents on the platform, to influence others and lead the fight to "create a truly non-cancelable environment."
"In a world where conservative opinions are considered to be controversial we have to make sure we have the right to freely express ourselves," Ye said in the press release.
While the public has been taken care of, it's time for the elites.
To honor those who have been supportive of the platform, Parler has given some of those people VIP statuses. These people receive verified “gold-badged” statuses, which according to Parler, is a marker given out to accounts held by "influencers, celebrities, journalists, media organizations, public officials, government entities, businesses, organizations, and non-profits."
In a more personal announcement, Parler sent these elites an email to announce Ye's acquisition of Parler.
But instead of using BCC, it uses CC, which means that the email addresses inside the field would be revealed.
And here, the email leaked more than 300 of its VIP users.
They include: former First Son and Daughter of the U.S. Eric and Ivanka Trump, Don Jr.'s fiancé Kimberly Guilfoyle and Eric's wife Lara Lee, Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s election denying attorney L. Lin Wood, American far-right and anti-Muslim political activist Laura Loomer, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe, and American YouTuber, political commentator and podcast host Tim Pool.
A former congressional aide to both Representative Matt Gaet and Representative Madison Cawthorn are also on the list as well.
Kelli Ward, Charlie Kirk, Jack Posobiec, Dan Bongino and Candace Owens, whose husband, George Farmer, is the CEO of the platform, are there as well.
Staffers for Senator Ted Cruz and Former President Donald Trump, Handmaid’s Tale aspirant, and Daily Wire contributor Matt Walsh.
Beside them, journalists from outlets including Epoch Times, One America News Network (OAN), and the Federalist, among others, are also there.
Responding to this mishap, some of the Parler elites reacted angrily, while others took the opportunity to promote their work or sling slurs.
Some of the elites never knew about their gold badges because many of them claim that it had been a long time since they logged in. Some even said that they've never logged in at all.
One of the Republicans whose email was on the list said a representative for Parler approached them at an event, urged them to use the platform more and informing them that they had VIP status with them. “The next thing I know I get an email saying, ‘Oops, so sorry. we sent your email to everybody on our list,’” the person said.
Following the accidental leak, COO of Parlement Technologies Inc. Josh Levine sent an apology.
"Earlier today, we shared with you news about Ye’s intent to purchase Parler. In the excitement, we inadvertently included your email address in the CC field instead of the BCC field. To say we’re highly embarrassed is an understatement," he wrote.