Apple has informed the social media network Parler that it has 24 hours to free the platform of inappropriate content, or else it will be removed from the App Store. The news was first reported by Input Mag, who obtained a copy of the email sent from Apple to Parler.
Apple wrote in the email that it disagrees with Parler’s direct approach to moderation, emphasizing that it will not distribute applications that include the types of content found in Parler. Apple says Parler is responsible for all user-generated content, in accordance with the App Store Review Guidelines.
“We want to make it clear that Parler is in fact responsible for all user-generated content on his service and for ensuring that this content meets the App Store’s requirements for the safety and protection of our users,” said the company. “We will not distribute applications that contain dangerous and harmful content.”
Apple specifically cites the “illegal activities” that took place in Washington DC on January 6 as an example. Apple writes that Parler was used to “plan, coordinate and facilitate” what happened.
“We received numerous complaints about objectionable content on your Parler service, allegations that the Parler app was used to plan, coordinate and facilitate illegal activities in Washington DC on January 6, 2021 that led (among other things) to loss of life, numerous injured and destruction of property. The app also appears to continue to be used to plan and further facilitate illegal and dangerous activities. “
Apple shared links to several examples of Parler’s posts inciting email violence, not limited to, but including:
Apple Ultimatum
If the content cited by Apple, and all similar content, is not removed within the next 24 hours, the Parler app will be banned from the App Store. Parler, who publicly took a direct approach to moderation, must also prove to Apple that he will adopt systems and practices to prevent such content from appearing on the social network in the future.
“Remove all objectionable content from your application and submit your revised binary for review. Such content includes any content similar to the examples attached to this message, as well as any content regarding damage to people or attacks on government facilities now or at any future date. In addition, you should reply to this message with detailed information about how you intend to moderate and filter this content from your app and what you will do to improve moderation and content filtering for your service for this type of objectionable content going forward. “
Apple specifically cites guideline 1.2 of its App Store Review Guidelines, which says that apps with user-generated content should also take precautions to manage objection content:
Guideline 1.2 – Security – User generated content
Your application allows the display of user-generated content, but does not take sufficient precautions to effectively manage the questionable content present in your application.
Finally, Apple also cited comments from Parler CEO John Matze, in which he said he “does not feel responsible for any of this and neither should the platform”, in reference to the Capitol riots in Washington DC this week.
Its CEO was quoted recently as saying “But I don’t feel responsible for any of this and neither should the platform, considering that we are a neutral square that just complies with the law”. We want to make it clear that Parler is in fact responsible for all user generated content on his service and for ensuring that this content meets the App Store requirements for the safety and protection of our users. We will not distribute applications that contain dangerous and harmful content.
In response to Apple’s threat to ban Parler from the App Store, Parler’s co-owner Dan Bongino posted on the platform that this is “clearly an idealistic decision, not based on principles”. He went on to appeal to Parler users to “spread the word about this destructive war against civil liberties”.
Given that Parler has publicly declared that he will forever adopt a moderation approach without intervention, it remains to be seen whether this will yield to pressure from Apple. Since Apple sent your email this morning, we should know the answer as soon as the 24-hour clock expires sometime on Saturday morning.
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