Apple has removed Parler from its App Store, according to CNN’s Oliver Darcy.
“Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people’s safety,” said Apple. “We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these issues.”
According to Apple, “Parler has not upheld its commitment to moderate and remove harmful or dangerous content encouraging violence and illegal activity, and is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines.”
Apple has objected to Parler’s plans on updating their moderation.
“In your response, you referenced that Parler has been taking this content “very seriously for weeks.” However, the process Parler has put in place to moderate or prevent the spread of dangerous and illegal content have proven insufficient,” said Apple in an email to Parler.
“While there is no perfect system to prevent all dangerous or hateful user content, apps are required to have robust content moderation plans in place to proactively and effectively address these issues,” said Apple. “A temporary “task force” is not a sufficient response given the widespread proliferation of harmful content.”
“For these reasons, your app will be removed from the App Store until we receive an update that is compliant with the App Store Review Guidelines and you have demonstrated your ability to effectively moderate and filter the dangerous and harmful content on your service,” concluded Apple.
“Apple will be banning Parler until we give up free speech, institute broad and invasive policies like Twitter and Facebook and we become a surveillance platform by pursuing guilt of those who use Parler before innocence,” said Parler CEO John Matze.
“They claim it is due to violence on the platform. The community disagrees as we hit number 1 on their store today. The same day “Hang Mike Pence”, a disgusting violent suggestion, was trending nationally on Twitter. Displaying the horrible double standard Apple and their big tech pack apply to the community. Apple, a software monopoly, provides no alternatives to installing apps on your phone other then their store. We do not own our phones, Apple simply rents them to us. 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. More details about our next plans coming soon as we have many options,” concluded Matze.
In a statement to CNS NEWS yesterday, Matze stated he would not be making any changes to his app.
“We plan on enforcing our [terms of service] and complying with law enforcement as we usually do,” said Matze. “Apple believes they are in a political position strong enough to protect their anti-competitive interests by enforcing their censorship onto people on Parler.”
Apple had given Parler an ultimatum of making changes within 24 hours or Parler would be removed from their App Store.
Both Apple and Google have been facing pressure to deplatform Parler, including pressure from Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Parler is not the only alternative to Twitter to receive a ban from Apple and Google’s app stores. Gab had previously received a ban from both platforms after it was discovered the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooter had been an active user of the platform.
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