Google has banned Parler from its app store for failing to remove violent content

Google has removed the unbiased social media app Parler from its Play Store for continuing to allow violence-inciting content in violation of the company’s policies.

Google has suspended “free speech” social network Parler from its Play Store over its failure to remove “egregious content”. Parler styles itself as “unbiased” social media and has proved popular with people banned from Twitter. But Google said the app had failed to remove posts inciting violence.

“We’re aware of continued posting in the Parler app that seeks to incite ongoing violence in the US. 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 spokesperson said.

“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.” 

Google said that its “longstanding policies require that apps displaying user-generated content have moderation policies and enforcement that removes egregious content like posts that incite violence,” and that Parler was continuing to violate those rules despite multiple recent warnings.