Gettr: Pro-Trump Social Network Faces Early Issues

A Rocky Start for Gettr: Twitter Clone Faces Immediate Challenges

The recently launched Twitter alternative, Gettr, spearheaded by former Trump spokesperson Jason Miller, is already confronting a series of significant issues just days after its debut.

Data Breach and Security Concerns

Hackers swiftly exploited vulnerabilities in Gettr’s API to obtain the email addresses of over 85,000 users. This compromised data also included usernames, names, and dates of birth, as reported by Alon Gal, co-founder of Hudson Rock, a cybersecurity firm.

Gal emphasized that such data extraction, stemming from inadequate API implementations, constitutes a data breach and warrants both corporate action and regulatory scrutiny.

Prior to this incident, TechCrunch predicted the likelihood of data scraping through Gettr’s API.

Funding and Disinformation Links

The application became available on both the App Store and Google Play last month, officially exiting beta on July 4th following a launch announcement in Politico. Despite aiming to attract supporters of Donald Trump, Gettr reportedly received initial funding from Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui.

Guo Wengui, a close associate of former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, has been identified as a central figure in a large-scale online disinformation network that disseminates anti-vaccine rhetoric and QAnon conspiracy theories, according to The Washington Post.

Account Compromises and Fake Profiles

On July 2nd, the Gettr team issued an apology for signup delays attributed to a surge in downloads. However, this downtime is arguably minor compared to other problems. Over the weekend, several verified Gettr accounts, including those belonging to Marjorie Taylor-Greene, Steve Bannon, and Jason Miller himself, were compromised, raising serious questions about the platform’s security protocols.

Furthermore, the platform is plagued by a proliferation of fake accounts, making it difficult to locate and verify genuine users. Even the app’s own recommendations proved unreliable, showcasing a fraudulent brand account for Steam during testing.

Design and Functionality Similarities to Twitter

A notable observation is the app’s strikingly similar design to Twitter. It appears to have utilized Twitter’s API to replicate follower counts and user profiles for some individuals. Gettr prompts new users to input their Twitter handle, with the intention of transferring existing tweets, although this feature did not function as expected during testing.

TechCrunch contacted Twitter regarding these similarities and the API usage, but the company declined to provide a statement.

Questionable Copy and Positioning

The mobile version of Gettr is essentially a direct clone of Twitter, albeit one with noticeable imperfections. The app’s written content is often awkward and unusual, including a claim to be a “non-bias” social network committed to providing “best software quality” and allowing “anyone to express their opinion freely.”

Gettr is actively marketing itself as an alternative platform for individuals who believe mainstream social networks are biased against conservative viewpoints. The website employs messaging reminiscent of Donald Trump, emphasizing freedom of speech and resistance to censorship: “Don’t be Cancelled. Flex Your 1st Amendment. Celebrate Freedom.”

Content Moderation and Trump's Absence

Jason Miller shared a post on Gettr, stating, “Hydroxychloroquine works!” and celebrating the platform’s lack of content moderation or account suspensions. However, the absence of robust moderation, as seen on platforms like Parler, is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term.

Despite strong associations with Donald Trump through Miller and former campaign staffer Tim Murtaugh, the former president has not yet established a presence on the app. While figures like Steve Bannon (84.7K followers) and Mike Pompeo (1.3M followers) have created profiles, searches for Trump yield only unofficial accounts. Bloomberg reported that Trump has no current plans to join Gettr.

Early Adoption and Future Outlook

It remains to be seen whether the app’s technical difficulties or Trump’s non-participation will hinder its growth. Sensor Tower estimates that Gettr has accumulated approximately 1.3 million installs worldwide since June, with Brazil being the second-largest market after the United States.

The pro-Trump online community remains fragmented in mid-2021. Gettr aimed to provide a haven for those banned from or unwelcome on mainstream platforms like Facebook and Twitter. However, given its numerous early setbacks, the longevity of this Twitter clone appears uncertain.