Parler, a microblogging and social networking app have been suspended by Apple & Amazon from their platforms. Apple had written to the executives' of Parler that their platform had been used by supporters of President Donald Trump to storm the US Capitol on January 8, 2021.
Apple further added, "We have received numerous complaints regarding objectionable content in your Parler service, accusations that the Parler app was used to plan, coordinate, and facilitate the illegal activities in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021 that led to loss of life, numerous injuries, and the destruction of property." It further added that the app was used to plan and conduct illegal and dangerous activities.
Apple had asked Parler officials to update the app with moderation improvement plan within 24 hours of the date of the message. After a few hours, Google came up with a similar ultimatum that until it came up with a moderation plan, its app's listing in the Google Play Store will be suspended.
Parler is regarded as Twitter without rules where people can post whatever they like without any content moderation by the company. However, Parler CEO John Matze turn a Nelson's eye towards these warnings by tech companies. Matze said, “We will not cave to pressure from anti-competitive actors! We will and always have enforced our rules against violence and illegal activity. But we WONT cave to politically motivated companies and those authoritarians who hate free speech!”
After the micro blogging site was launched in 2018, many Trump supporters, QAnon believers and all those whose accounts were suspended by Facebook or Twitter shifted to Parler. It becomes users' delight because of its no content moderation policy. Parler is touted as an "unbiased social media focused on real user experiences and engagements." Screen grabs from parler's feed show vile content that go unchecked on its platform.
Apple, Google and Amazon suspended Parler after it didn't pay heed to the objections raised by the companies. Apple in a statement to The Hill Newspaper said, " “We have always supported diverse points of view being represented on the App Store, but there is no place on our platform for threats of violence and illegal activity.” It further added that Parler had not taken adequate measures.
Amazon also suspended Parler from its Amazon Web Services (AWS). Parler is said to be a defaulter for not complying with the terms and services of AWS. The move to suspend Parler came at a time when Twitter banned President Donald Trump due to "risk of further incitement of violence."
Google also took a similar decision while citing user safety and content moderation standards. It has triggered a debate on Internet and micro-blogging sites where some people are terming the suspension as 'muscle flexing' policy of big-tech.