Parler, a social media app popular with U.S. conservatives, returned to Apple Inc’s App Store on Monday. It was dropped from App store following the deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
App Store Return
Apple said last month it would readmit Parler into its iOS App Store, after Parler proposed updates to its app and content moderation policies.
“Anything allowed on the Parler network but not in the iOS app will remain accessible through our web-based and Android versions. This is a win-win for Parler, its users, and free speech.”
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As part of the deal to return to the App Store, Parler’s iOS app will exclude some content normally allowed on the social media company’s platform. However, the content will remain visible through Android and web-based versions of the site.
In its statement, Parler said it “plans to continue its discussions with Apple as to the optimal way to handle this content.”
New Interim CEO
“Parler has and will always be a place where people can engage in the free exchange of ideas in the full spirit of the First Amendment,” said Parler interim CEO Mark Meckler in a statement. “The entire Parler team has worked hard to address Apple’s concerns without compromising our core mission.”
The Washington Post said Parler’s Chief Policy Officer Amy Peikoff likened the iOS version of the app to a “Parler Lite or Parler PG.” Parler is still pushing Apple to allow users to see hate speech behind a warning label, the newspaper reported.
Several tech companies cut ties with Parler after the Capitol riot, accusing the app backed by prominent Republican Party donor Rebekah Mercer of failing to police violent content on its service.
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Parler went dark for about a month after Amazon.com Inc suspended web-hosting services. Parler returned online in February with Los Angeles-based private cloud infrastructure SkySilk. Amazon Web Services declined to comment on Monday.
Alphabet Inc’s Google also removed Parler from its app store.
“Parler has remained available on Android because of the openness of the platform even if it isn’t currently distributed through Google Play,” a Google spokesman said on Monday.
“As we stated back in January, Parler is welcome back in the Play store once it submits an app that complies with our content moderation policies, which preclude things like physical threats to individuals and inciting violence.”
Parler co-founder and CEO John Matze was fired by the board earlier this year. In an emailed statement Parler said new CEO Farmer had been an active financial supporter and candidate for UK’s Brexit Party and “remains actively involved in business and politics on both sides of the Atlantic.”
