Parler says they remain “optimistic” that Apple will allow them back on the app store after Bloomberg reported that Apple had denied their request to return.
“Over the past two months, we’ve worked towards the goal of returning to Apple’s App Store, in reliance on Tim Cook’s statements that Apple’s problem was not with our mission, but only with the perceived lack of enforcement of our guidelines,” Parler said in a statement obtained by the Daily Caller. “Parler has always been opposed and worked to remove violent and inciting rhetoric from our platform, because it inhibits productive, civil discourse.”
“We have since engaged Apple to show them how we’ve incorporated a combination of algorithmic filters and human review to detect and remove content that threatens or incites violence.”
“We’re optimistic that Apple will continue to differentiate itself from other ‘Big Tech’ companies by supporting its customers’ choice to ‘think different’– to exercise their constitutionally protected freedoms of thought, speech, and association–while using Apple products.”
Parler cut its three remaining iOS developers on Wednesday, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources. Apple found that Parler’s new set of guidelines — developed after Apple had removed the app from their store — were insufficient and did not comply with app store rules, according to Bloomberg.
“After having reviewed the new information, we do not believe these changes are sufficient to comply with App Store Review guidelines,” Apple wrote to Parler’s chief policy officer on Feb. 25, according to Bloomberg. “There is no place for hateful, racist, discriminatory content on the App Store.”
Apple reportedly included several screenshots that show user profile pictures donning swastikas, white nationalist images and user names that are alleged to be discriminatory. (RELATED: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Says He’s Launching A New Social Media Company After Being Kicked Off Twitter)
“As you know, developers are required to implement robust moderation capabilities to proactively identify, prevent and filter this objectionable content to protect the health and safety of users,” Apple said in a letter to Parler, according to Bloomberg.
“In fact, simple searches reveal highly objectionable content, including easily identified offensive uses of derogatory terms regarding race, religion and sexual orientation, as well as Nazi symbols,” Apple reportedly continued. “For these reasons your app cannot be returned to the App Store for distribution until it complies with the guidelines.”
Apple pulled Parler from the App Store on Jan. 9 just hours after warning the company it wasn’t doing enough to monitor speech following the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.
“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,” Apple said in a statement, according to The New York Times (NYT). “Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people’s safety.”
Apple has banned Parler from the iOS App Store for hosting “threats of violence and illegal activity.”
Here’s the message Apple sent to Parler explaining the decision, which Apple has provided: pic.twitter.com/YpCQ6u0nt8
— Brian Fung (@b_fung) January 10, 2021
Former Parler CEO John Matze initially criticized Apple’s decision, saying Apple expects Parler to “give up free speech, institute broad and invasive policies” and “become a surveillance platform by pursuing guilt of those who use Parler before innocence.”