Amazon helps Parler operate by hosting its web traffic on its servers, according to a group of Amazon employees. These employees and at least a member of Congress they asked Amazon to disconnect Parler from that service, which could threaten his survivability. Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.
Apple’s action is more problematic for Parler than for Google, because Apple requires all iPhone apps to go through its App Store. Google has removed Parler from its Android app store, but it also allows apps to be downloaded from elsewhere, meaning that Android users can still find the Parler app, with just a little more work. Parler is also available through web browsers on phones and computers.
Before blocking Parler on Saturday, Apple gave the company 24 hours to improve its moderation and prevent removal from the App Store. In that period, it seemed that Parler had tried to remove some messages that seemed to require violence.
For example, L. Lin Wood, a lawyer who sued to overturn Trump’s electoral defeat, posted on Parler on Thursday morning: “Prepare the firing squad. Pence goes FIRST. ”The post was viewed at least 788,000 times, according to a screenshot on the Internet Archive. On Saturday morning, the post was removed.
In a text message, Matze said the post was removed “in accordance with Parler’s terms of service and rules against incitement to violence”. He said he was not sure whether Apple knew Parler had removed the post.
In a statement to Parler on Saturday, Apple said it “continued to find direct threats of violence and calls to incite actions against the law” in the app. Apple told the company that its app would not be allowed on the App Store until “you demonstrate your ability to effectively moderate and filter dangerous and harmful content on your service”.
In an interview, Jeffrey Wernick, Parler’s chief operating officer, blamed “a cancellation culture at Apple” for reducing his company’s outlook. He said he would advise other platforms not to try to compete on Apple’s App Store. “Because if you raise money and get investors and end up like Parler, what good is it?” he said.