Apple joins Google in removing the Parler App from the App Store. This is part of a broad internet tech giant move to deplatform not only Donald Trump, but also supporters on the pretext of threats of violence after the Capitol Hill riot
That deplatforming goes far beyond social media, and includes webhosting, email services, and other platforms.
The NY Times was the first to break the Apple news.
Axios summarizes:
Apple said Saturday it has suspended Parler, a social media app that’s become popular among conservatives and far-right extremists, from its App Store over issues concerning threats of violence and illegal activity on its platform.What they’re saying: “Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people’s safety,” Apple spokesperson Fred Sainz told Axios in an email.Details: Apple had warned Parler on Friday that the social network had a day to present a plan to better moderate harmful content or else it would be removed from the App Store. Parler will be able to return to the App Store if it comes up with such a plan, Apple said.
- Yes, but: That’s unlikely to happen. Parler’s whole pitch to users is that it promotes free speech and won’t crack down on politically objectionable content.
Our thought bubble: Apple’s move follows Google Play suspending Parler without any grace period, so as the app gatekeepers flex substantial power, they’re also keeping an eye on what one another are doing.Between the lines: Despite being spiked from both major mobile app stores, Parler remains accessible on any mobile or desktop device via its website.
- Nevertheless, some critics are pressing Amazon, whose AWS unit hosts the Parler platform, to pull support, which would take the network offline until it could find other hosting.
Worth noting: Parler was the No. 1 app in Apple’s App Store this weekend prior to the tech giant suspending the service.
Not that it matters to these tech censors, but Parler noted that there are worse issues on Twitter:
“This is very huge,” Amy Peikoff, Parler’s policy chief, told Fox News on Friday, when Apple first threatened to remove the app. Without access to the App Store, she said, “we’re toast.”
John Matze, Parler’s chief executive, said in a text message early Saturday that Twitter had recently promoted the phrase “Hang Mike Pence” as a trending topic. (The majority of the discussion on Twitter was about rioters chanting the phrase about the vice president on Wednesday.) “I have seen no evidence Apple is going after them,” Mr. Matze said. “This would appear to be an unfair double standard as every other social media site has the same issues, arguably on a worse scale.” He added, “But we are taking this very seriously.”
We are entering a very dangerous period. They are drunk with power, and are moving in for the internet kill.
This is serious, via Buzzfeed:
Amazon on Saturday kicked Parler off its Web hosting services. Parler, a social network favored by conservative politicians and extremists, was used to help plan and coordinate the January 6 attempted coup on Washington D.C. It has recently been overrun with messages encouraging “Patriots” to march on Washington D.C. with weapons on January 19.Amazon’s suspension of Parler’s account means that unless it can find another host, once the ban takes effect on Sunday Parler will go offline.
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