Alphabet Inc.’s Google late Friday suspended Parler, a free-speech focused social-media network favored by conservatives, for failing to moderate incitements to violence and illegal activity, and Apple Inc. threatened to do the same.
Google said it acted because of “continued posting in the Parler app that seeks to incite ongoing violence in the U.S.,” which violated its requirements for sufficient moderation of egregious content for apps it distributes. “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,” a Google representative said.
Apple told Parler it received complaints regarding objectionable content on the service and accusations the app was used to plan, coordinate and facilitate illegal activities, according to a notice provided to The Wall Street Journal by John Matze, Parler’s chief executive.
The tech giant said in order for Parler to remain available in the App Store, it had to provide detailed information about its content-moderation plans and “what you will do to improve moderation and content filtering your service for this kind of objectionable content going forward.”
Apple set a deadline of 24 hours for Parler’s compliance.
