Apple has removed Parler from the App Store for fostering calls to violence and crime ahead of, and following, the raid on the US Capitol, The New York Times report.
Google had made a similar move a day earlier. The companies both said that Parler had not sufficiently policed the conversation on its app, allowing too many posts that encouraged violence and crime.
“We have always supported diverse points of view being represented on the App Store, but there is no place on our platform for threats of violence and illegal activity. Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people’s safety. We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these issues,” reads a statement from the company on Saturday evening.
Before blocking Parler on Saturday, Apple issued an ultimatum to Parler demanding that it remove content in violation with its policies and provide a plan on how it would moderate content moving forward. Apple said Parler had 24 hours to make the changes or else it would be removed from the App Store.
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Apparently, Parler did propose some changes, but Apple decided they weren’t sufficient, according to a statement Apple sent to Parler alongside its final decision to remove the app. It states that “the processes Parler has put in place to moderate or prevent the spread of dangerous and illegal content have proved insufficient,” and that Parler will not return to the App Store until it has “demonstrated your ability to effectively moderate and filter the dangerous and harmful content on your service.”
The move comes as millions of President Trump’s supporters flocked to the social app after Facebook and Twitter cracked down on posts that spread misinformation and incited violence, including muzzling Mr. Trump by removing his accounts this past week.
Parler CEO John Matze posted a statement on Parler accusing Apple of applying a “horrible double standard” in its decision.
“Apple, Google and the rest of the anti-competitive pack of big tech tyrants coordinate their moves and work together to stifle competition in the marketplace,” he wrote. Matze added more details would be coming soon about Parler’s plans “as we have many options.
