In a win for free speech, Apple finally allowed the free speech-oriented app Parler back into the App Store.
Apple sent a letter to Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) that stated the App Store would once again host Parler, according to a tweet from Buck.
In its letter discussing Parler’s reinstatement, Apple still took the time to bash Parler when it could. Apple claimed that some posts on Parler “encouraged violence, denigrated various ethnic groups, races and religions, glorified Nazism, and called for violence against specific people.” Apple also claimed that Parler’s “moderation practices were clearly inadequate to protect users from this harmful and dangerous content.”
However, Apple was apparently satisfied with the changes Parler has made. “Parler has proposed updates to its app and the app’s content moderation practices, and the App Review Team has informed Parler as of April 14, 2021 that its proposed updated app will be approved for reinstatement to the App Store.” Apple stated that it expects that the app would once again be “available immediately upon Parler releasing it.”
The letter also specified that “Apple made an independent decision to remove Parler for non-compliance with the Guidelines, and it did not coordinate or otherwise consult with Google or Amazon with respect to that decision.”
Apple and Google both removed Parler from their respective app stores following the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Amazon then booted the platform from its web hosting services in a move that temporarily shut down Parler’s website. Apple’s letter was a response to Lee and Buck sending an inquiry letter to Apple, Google and Amazon demanding answers for their actions against Parler. In a blatant act of hypocrisy, Apple banned Parler following the riot, but did not ban Facebook, despite the fact that Facebook reportedly played an outsized role in fueling the riot. Parler claimed that it had warned the FBI “more than fifty times” before the riot.
Only time will tell if Google will make the same decision as Apple and allow Parler back into its app store as well.
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MRC President Brent Bozell
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