Google suspends the Play Store social networking app Parler; Apple gives 24 hour notice

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

Apple Inc. on Friday also gave the service 24 hours to present a detailed moderation plan, pointing to participants using the service to coordinate Wednesday’s siege of the United States Capitol building.

The actions of the two Silicon Valley companies mean that the network seen as a haven for people kicked out of Twitter may be unavailable for new downloads from the world’s top mobile app stores in one day. It would still be available on mobile browsers.

Right-wing social media users in the United States flocked to Parler, the Telegram messaging app, and the interactive social site Gab, citing the more aggressive policing of political comments on mainstream platforms like Twitter Inc and Facebook Inc. Twitter has permanently suspected President Trump account on Friday.

When suspending the service, Google, whose software powers Android phones, cited its policy against apps that promote violence and gave recent examples of Parler, including a post on Friday that began “How do we get our country back? About 20 coordinated attacks ”and another promoting a“ Millions of Militias March ”in Washington.

Parler Chief Executive John Matze said in a post on Friday that Apple was applying standards to Parler that did not apply to itself.

In a statement, Google said that “in order to distribute an application through Google Play, we require that applications implement robust moderation for shocking content. In light of this continuing and urgent threat to public safety, we are suspending the app’s listings on the Play Store until it resolves these issues. “

In a letter from the Apple App Store analytics team to Parler seen by Reuters, Apple cited participants from the crowd that stormed the United States Capitol building on Wednesday.

“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,” Apple said in the letter.

Apple gave Parler 24 hours to “remove all objectionable content from its application … as well as any content relating to personal injury 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 this content” of the application.

Apple declined to comment.

Matze, who describes himself as a libertarian, founded Parler in 2018 as a “freedom of speech” alternative to mainstream platforms, but began courting right-wing users as prominent Trump supporters moved there.

Among those who joined were commentator Candace Owens, Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who handcuffed herself outside the Twitter office in New York in November 2018 to protest the site’s ban. In November, conservative activist Rebekah Mercer confirmed that she and her family, which includes her father and hedge fund investor Robert Mercer, provided funds to Parler.

“Apparently, they believe that Parler is responsible for ALL user generated content in Parler,” said Matze. “So (sic) by the same logic, Apple should be responsible for ALL 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, ”he wrote. “Standards not applied to Twitter, Facebook or even Apple itself apply to Parler.”