Google Removes Parler From the Play Store

According to The Verge on Friday, Google removed “unbiased” social media app Parler from the Play Store for hosting content intended to incite violence:

In order to protect user safety on Google Play, our longstanding policies require that apps displaying user-generated content have moderation policies and enforcement that removes egregious content like posts that incite violence. All developers agree to these terms and we have reminded Parler of this clear policy in recent months. We’re aware of continued posting in the Parler app that seeks to incite ongoing violence in the US. We recognize that there can be reasonable debate about content policies and that it can be difficult for apps to immediately remove all violative content, but 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 app’s listings from the Play Store until it addresses these issues.

Due to a lack of regulation, Parler has become a safe haven for the far-right from social media platforms that sternly police content.

Allowing users to circulate content that encourages violence without any moderation policies in effect violates Google’s terms for developers, which is the basis for the suspension.

Yesterday, Apple notified Parler that it would be banned from the App Store if strict moderation policies are not put in place within 24 hours. Considering Parler CEO John Matze’s belligerent response to the warning, the app’s impending removal from the App Store is all but ratified.

In response to pro-Trump rioters’ invasion of Capitol Hill at the behest of the incumbent, Facebook placed “indefinite” bans on President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, and Twitter permanently suspended his account on the platform.