Google suspends Parler from app store, urges tighter content moderation
By Rebecca Klar - 01/08/21 08:11 PM EST
Google on Friday suspended social media platform Parler from its app store while joining Apple in calling on the platform to tighten its content moderation rules or risk permanent removal.
Google said in a statement it is suspending Parler, an app popular among conservatives that has gained popularity in recent months over its hands-off approach to content moderation, due to "continued posting" in the app that it said "seeks to incite ongoing violence in the U.S.â€
“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 spots that incite violence. All developers agree to these terms and we have reminded Parler of this clear policy in recent months,†the company said in a statement.
“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,†the statement continued.
Google said that in light of “this ongoing and urgent public safety threat,†it is suspending Parler listings from the Play Store until it “addresses these issues.â€
Apple similarly threatened to ban Parler from its app store, BuzzFeed News reported Friday.
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https://thehill.com/policy/technology/533451-google-apple-tell-parler-to-tighten-moderation-or-risk-removal-from-app