Google has removed conservative social networking provider Parler’s App from its app store on Friday, Jan. 8, saying it will stay down until Parler commits to censorship of objectionable content on its platform. Apple has also threatened to remove the app from the app store. In response, Paller’s CEO declared that he would continue to support civil liberties.
In a statement released Friday, Google said, “To protect the safety of users on Google Play, our long-standing policy requires that apps that display user-posted content have review policies and enforcement measures to remove overly aggressive content, such as posts that incite violence.” On the same day, Apple asked Paller to submit a detailed review plan within 24 hours, alleging that Paller was used to coordinate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
In response, Paller responded in an emailed statement, saying, “Google has never previously warned us about this. Google’s reason for removing Paller was screenshots that were shared on Twitter (ironically they were allowed to be shared on Twitter while Apple and Google were silent) and which were banned by Paller for violating the rules. This is not an attack on Paler. This is an attack on our basic civil liberties and free speech rights.”
John Matze, CEO of Paller, responded to Apple in a statement saying, “Anyone who buys an Apple phone is a user of …… who apparently believes that Paller is responsible for the content posted by all users on Paller. By that logic, Apple must be responsible for everything done with an Apple phone. Every car bomb, every illegal conversation on a phone, every crime committed with an Apple phone, Apple must also be responsible …… for the standard requirements of Paler without having to be on Twitter and Facebook, or even Apple itself.
Mazzie shared two posts at the same time. The first post reads, “We will not give in to pressure from anti-competitors! We will always enforce the rules against violence and illegal activity. But we will not cave in to politically motivated companies, and dictators who hate free speech!”
Maz’s second post said, “The media is trying to claim that the ‘riots’ were organized on Pall. There are many problems with this.”
“1) Paller can’t organize anything, Facebook groups are heavily used to organize protests. 2) Protests are protected by the constitution. 3) Bad people turn protests into riots. I know the media, everyone, wants to blame everyone else. It’s easy for them to use Paler as a scapegoat.”
Martz added, “The reality is that everyone is pointing fingers. We need to start thinking critically again and stop pointing fingers at each other. We must try to humanize each other again, not dehumanize. Using witch-hunting tactics is only counterproductive.”
As the founder and CEO of a conservative social media company, Maz describes himself as a true believer in free speech. Social media users in the U.S. flocked to Paler, messaging app Telegram and social platform Gab in droves after mainstream social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook have cracked down on free speech.
Twitter permanently deactivated President Trump‘s account as well as the Trump campaign’s account on Jan. 8. Facebook also issued a statement saying it would block the president’s Facebook account; Youtube then followed suit, saying it would immediately remove all videos of election fraud.
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