Apple allows right-wing social network Parler back on App Store
Many Apple fans are looking forward to tomorrow's big event. Conservative and right-leaning iPhone users, however, got some interesting news today.
Parler, the right-wing social media platform, is coming back to the App Store.
The return of Parler's iOS app comes months after it was removed following the violent events of Jan. 6. The social media site provided a platform for Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol that day.
When will Parler return to iOS? According to Apple, as soon as the social network releases the updated version of the Parler iOS app.
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Apple sent a letter Monday to Republicans Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Ken Buck, who demanded information from Apple on why the company removed Parler from the App Store.
In the letter, Apple explained what led to Parler's removal in January. The iPhone maker's main issue with Parler was its lackluster content moderation.
Apple says its own reviewers found "posts that encouraged violence, denigrated various ethnic groups, races, and religions, glorified Nazism, and called for violence against specific people."
The site went down shortly after when Amazon cut off Parler from its web-hosting services in January. Parler came back online the next month using hosting services from a LA-based company called SkySilk. When Parler appealed to Apple to have its app reinstated last month, Apple declined, saying the proposed changes by Parler would still not make it compliant with the App Store's guidelines.
Apple CEO Tim Cook previously said the company would allow Parler to return to the App Store "if they get their moderation together." It seems like Parler has finally submitted a proposal that suited Apple.
Since Parler was last on the App Store, its users' posts were scraped by hacktivists, and the company fired its founder and CEO. It also fought with its own user base over "free speech" principles after announcing it reported violent posts to the FBI.
What will Parler's new content moderation policies look like? And will it be able to comply with Apple without angering its users further?
We'll know more soon. Apple said it told the company it could return last week. The ball is now in Parler's court.
