Amazon, Apple and Google ban the Parler app because of violent content surrounding the Capitol attack

Amazon, Apple and Google banned the Parler social networking app from their respective services and app stores in the wake of attack on the US Capitol by a crowd of Trump supporters. Parler has been filled with violent comments since before the attack on the Capitol.

Parler CEO John Matze posted on his application late Saturday that Amazon had informed him that it would no longer help host his application on the Amazon Web Services platform. The move came after previous announcements from Apple and Google would also remove the app from their respective stores.

“This was an attack coordinated by the tech giants to eliminate competition in the market,” wrote Matze, adding that his service became “very successful very quickly”. He didn’t approach his platform relatively loose rules of moderation or its use by extremists before the Capitol riot. He also failed to mention the growing concern that social media apps, including Parler, were being used to organize another attack in the coming weeks.

Nor did Amazon immediately respond to requests for comment.

Earlier in the day, Apple said in a statement that it had banned Parler from its App Store because it had not properly policed ​​content posted by users.

Apple “has always supported a variety of views being represented on the App Store, but there is no place on our platform for threats of violence and illegal activities,” said the company. “Parler has not taken adequate measures to deal with the proliferation of these threats to people’s security. We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these problems.”

The App Store is the only way to distribute apps to iPhones, so the ban represents a serious challenge for online services, although they can often still be accessed through websites.

Apple’s action followed Google’s decision to remove Parler’s Android app from its Play Store on Friday for similar reasons.

“We are aware of ongoing posts on the Parler app that seek to incite continuing violence in the United States,” said Google. “We recognize that there may be a reasonable debate about content policies and that it may be difficult for apps to immediately remove all infringing content, but in order to distribute an app through Google Play, we require apps to implement robust moderation for blatant content. “

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Google’s ban will not affect Parler as much as Apple’s, because Android users can “download” apps without going through the Play Store if they want to. Capacity is disabled by default, however.

Deforming a platform

The modern Internet offers an abundance of platforms to communicate directly with millions of people and has proven to be a challenge for balance the benefits of online discussion with the disadvantages.

Parler’s CEO Matze posted notices that his app could be removed from Amazon’s web services after a group of employees called on the company to act. “We cannot be accomplices in more bloodshed and violent attacks on our democracy,” Amazon officials wrote in a tweet.

Less than a day later, they declared victory. “We demand that Amazon deplatform white supremacists using the technology we work on as a megaphone to incite violence and attack our democracy,” the group said.

Enough is enough. Amazon hosts Parler in @awscloud.

As Amazon workers, we demand that Amazon deny Parler’s services until it removes posts that incite violence, including presidential tenure.

We cannot be accomplices in more bloodshed and violent attacks on our democracy.

– Amazon Employees For Climate Justice (@AMZNforClimate) January 9, 2021

In the case of Apple, the iPhone maker sent Parler a warning letter on Friday, according to Buzzfeed, demanding that the app improve its moderation.

“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 injuries and destruction of property. The app also appears to continue to be used to plan and further facilitate illegal and dangerous activities, “Apple told Parler. “If we do not receive an update that complies with the App Store Review Guidelines and the moderation improvement plan requested in writing within 24 hours, your app will be removed from the App Store.”

In a follow-up letter to Parler’s developers on Saturday, Apple said it was still seeing unacceptable content on Parler.

“In your response, you mentioned that Parler has taken this content ‘very seriously for weeks’,” wrote Apple. “However, the processes that Parler has implemented to moderate or prevent the spread of dangerous and illegal content have proved to be insufficient. Specifically, we continue to encounter direct threats of violence and calls to incite lawless actions.”

And an apparent plan presented by Parler did not satisfy Apple.

“Your response also refers to a ‘for now’ moderation plan, which does not meet ongoing requirements” in the App Store guidelines, Apple wrote. “While there is no perfect system for avoiding all dangerous or hateful user content, applications need to have robust content moderation plans to address these issues proactively and effectively. A temporary ‘task force’ is not a sufficient response. given the widespread proliferation of harmful content. “

Parler also did not respond to a request for comment on Apple’s ban.

In a post by Parler on Friday, CEO Matze challenged Apple’s position and said that Apple does not keep Twitter or Facebook in the same pattern. “Apparently, they believe Parler is responsible for ALL user generated content in Parler,” he said. “By the same logic, Apple should be responsible for ALL the actions taken on their phones. Every car bomb, every illegal cell phone conversation, every illegal crime committed on an iPhone, Apple must also be responsible.”

Apple did not respond to a request for comment on Matze’s comments.

Repression of content on social networks

The biggest example of degradation happened on Friday, when Twitter permanently suspended President Donald Trumpreport “due to the risk of further incitement to violence”.

After the Capitol insurrection, which caused deaths, vandalism and property damage – not to mention the insult to a national and international symbol of democracy – social media sites have taken a tougher stance against activities they consider dangerous. Facebook and Instagram blocked Trump from new posts “indefinitely.” Reddit hacked The_Donald, an important right-wing discussion forum and Twitter banned several important accounts associated with the right-wing false QAnon conspiracy theory.

In a tweet on Friday, Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent New York Democrat, asked Google and Apple to take action after reports of calls for violence in Parler.

Parler’s growing importance

Parler is growing in importance for right-wing activists as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram wiped out Trump’s social media accounts after legalists broke into the Capitol on Wednesday.

“Our investigation found that Parler is not effectively moderating and removing content that encourages illegal activity and poses a serious risk to the health and safety of users, in direct violation of their own terms of service,” Apple told Parler on Friday. , citing a handful of examples supposedly showing violent threats. “Content of this dangerous and harmful nature is not appropriate for the App Store. As you know from previous conversations with the App Review, Apple requires that applications with user-generated content be moderated effectively to ensure that objectionable and potentially harmful content be filtered. Content that threatens the well-being of others or is intended to incite violence or other illegal acts has never been acceptable on the App Store. “