[ad_1]
Apple has suspended Parler from the App Store, saying the social media service had failed to take adequate steps to prevent the spread of posts that incite violence.
Apple had provided the service around the clock to present a detailed moderation plan, pointing to participants who were using the service to coordinate Wednesday’s attack on the US Capitol.
“We have suspended Parler from the App Store until these issues are resolved,” the company said in a statement.
Parler is a social network to which many Trump supporters have migrated after being banned on platforms such as Twitter. The plans for the protests in Washington DC that ended the assault on the Capitol this week were widely shared in Parler.
It follows a similar move by Google, which removed the app from its Play Store until the platform adds “robust” content moderation.
The shares of the two Silicon Valley companies mean that Parler is not available for new downloads, but would still be available via mobile browsers.
Previously, a letter from Apple’s App Store review team to Parler read: “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.”
Parler CEO John Matze said in posts on his service on Friday that Apple was applying standards to Parler that it did not apply to itself and that companies were attacking civil liberties. He added in a text message: “Coordination of riots, violence and rebellions has no place on social media.”
Matze said of Apple: “Apparently, they believe that Parler is responsible for ALL user generated content on Parler. Following the same logic, Apple should be responsible for ALL actions performed by its phones. Every car bomb, every illegal cell phone conversation, every illegal crime committed on an iPhone, Apple must also be held accountable. “
