Google suspends the Parler app for social networking from the Play Store; Apple gives 24-hour warning

(Reuters) – Google’s Alphabet Inc suspended the Parler social networking service from its app store on Friday, citing reports of incitement to violence and a “robust” content moderation of the app by many supporters of US President Donald Trump.

Apple Inc. also gave the service 24 hours on Friday to submit a detailed moderation plan, pointing out that participants are using the service to coordinate Wednesday’s siege of the U.S. Capitol building.

The actions of the two Silicon Valley companies mean that the network, which is seen as a haven for people who are suspended from Twitter, will not be available for new downloads on the world’s most important mobile app stores within a day. It will still be available in mobile browsers.

Law-abiding social media users in the United States have flocked to Parler, the messaging app Telegram and the hands-on social media site Gab, citing the more aggressive policing of political commentary on mainstream platforms such as Twitter Inc and Facebook Inc. account on Friday.

During the suspension of the service, Google, whose software uses Android phones, quoted its policy against programs that promote violence and gave recent examples from Parler, including a Friday message that started ‘How do we take our country back? About 20 or so coordinated hits and another promoting a “Million Militia march” on Washington.

John Matze, CEO of Parler, said in a report on Friday that Apple is applying standards to Parler that it does not apply to itself.

In a statement, Google said that ‘for us to distribute an app through Google Play, we require apps to apply robust moderation to serious content. In light of this ongoing and urgent threat to public safety, we are suspending the list of the app from the Play Store until it addresses these issues. ”

In a letter from Apple’s App Store review team to Parler, seen by Reuters, Apple names the participants in the mob that stormed the US Capitol building.

“Content that threatens the well-being of others or is intended to incite violence or other lawless acts has never been acceptable in the App Store,” Apple said in the letter.

Apple has given Parler 24 hours to “remove all offensive content from your app … as well as any content that refers to damage to people or attacks on government facilities now or at any future date.” The company also demanded that Parler submit a written plan to moderate and filter the content from the app.

Apple declined to comment.

Describing himself as a libertarian, Matze founded Parler in 2018 as a ‘freedom of speech-driven’ alternative to mainstream platforms, but began using legitimate users as prominent Trump supporters moved there.

Those who joined include commentator Candace Owens, Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who in November 2018 handcuffed herself in front of the door of Twitter’s New York office to ban her on the website to argue. In November, conservative activist Rebekah Mercer confirmed that she and her family, which includes her father and hedge fund investor Robert Mercer, provided financing to Parler.

“They apparently believe that Parler is responsible for ALL user-generated content on Parler,” Matze said. “Therefore, according to the same logic, Apple must be responsible for ALL actions taken by their phones. “Every car bomb, every illegal cell phone call, every illegal crime committed on an iPhone must also be the responsibility of Apple,” he wrote. “Standards that are not applied to Twitter, Facebook or even Apple itself apply to Parler.”