Parler Chief Executive John Matze said in a post on Friday that Apple was applying standards to Parler that it did not apply to itself.
In a statement, Google said that for us to distribute an app through Google Play, we do require that apps implement robust moderation for egregious content. In light of this ongoing and urgent public safety threat, we are suspending the apps listings from the Play Store until it addresses these issues.
In a letter from Apples App Store review team to Parler seen by Reuters, Apple cited participants of the mob storming the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday.
Content that threatens the well-being of others or is intended to incite violence or other lawless 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 your app as well as any content referring to harm 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 this content from the app.
Apple declined to comment.
Matze, who describes himself as libertarian, founded Parler in 2018 as a free-speech driven alternative to mainstream platforms but began courting right-leaning users as prominent supporters of Trump moved there.
Those who have joined include commentator Candace Owens, Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and right-wing activist Laura Loomer, who handcuffed herself to the door of Twitters New York office in Nov. 2018 to protest a ban on her by the site. In November, conservative activist Rebekah Mercer confirmed that the she and her family, which includes her father and hedge-fund investor Robert Mercer, have provided funding to Parler.
Apparently they believe Parler is responsible for ALL user generated content on Parler, Matze said. Therefor (sic) by the same logic, Apple must be responsible for ALL actions taken by their phones. Every car bomb, every illegal cell phone conversation, every illegal crime committed on an iPhone, Apple must also be responsible for, he wrote. Standards not applied to Twitter, Facebook or even Apple themselves, apply to Parler. (Reporting by Elizabeth Culliford, Joseph Menn and Stephen Nellis; Editing by Leslie Adler, Cynthia Osterman and Daniel Wallis)read more
Google suspends Parler social networking app from Play Store; Apple gives 24-hour warning – Saskatoon StarPhoenix
