I can't help but wonder if the opposite isn't at play here. It's reasonable that these companies have wanted to dissociate with Parler or other specific extremist groups but were afraid of political retribution from Mr. Trump. In your experience, did those same private businesses curry favor with governments by giving their allies preferential treatment?
As 'slippery slope' as this all feels, I'd personally rather the government not get involved in these private business dealings unless they feel there is a monopoly/oligopoly at foot.
Then in that case they will surely be desirous of de-platforming the toxic content on Twitter, which advocates, among other things, the destruction of Israel By Iran and the internment of Uyghurs in Sinjiang. Who would want their corporate identity sullied by such content?
As for the slippery slope, in my opinion we're headed with accelerating pace toward Kotkin's Neo-feudalism. The suppression of dissent is one important piece of the process.
As 'slippery slope' as this all feels, I'd personally rather the government not get involved in these private business dealings unless they feel there is a monopoly/oligopoly at foot.