Apple is preparing to relist Parler in the iOS App Store after the controversial social network agreed to update its content-moderation practices.
On Monday, Apple sent a letter to US Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and US Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) about “substantial conversations” it had with Parler about relisting the app.
In January, Apple pulled Parler, which advertises itself as a free speech social network, after a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol. Apple pointed to the prevalence of hate speech and calls for violence on Parler, along with the lack of content moderation, which it said violated iOS App Store rules.
Since then, Parler has been working with Cupertino to make the social network compliant. “As a result of those conversations, Parler has proposed updates to its app and the app’s content moderation practices,” Apple’s senior director for government affairs, Timothy Powderly, wrote in the letter to Republican lawmakers.
“The App Review Team has informed Parler as of April 14, 2021, that its proposed updated app will be approved for reinstatement to the App Store,” Powderly adds. “Apple anticipates that the updated Parler app will become available immediately upon Parler releasing it.”
Apple declined to comment on the letter. But earlier this month, CEO Tim Cook told New York Times’ columnist Kara Swisher “I hope that they (Parler) come back on,” despite past violations.
“Because we work hard to get people on the store, not to keep people off the store,” he said. “And so, I’m hoping that they put in the moderation that’s required to be on the store and come back, because I think having more social networks out there is better than having less.”
Sen. Lee and Rep. Buck hailed Apple’s decision as a win for free speech. “Conservative speech must not be silenced,” Lee tweeted.
However, others are already slamming Apple’s decision. “This app was a huge part of the planning for the Insurrection,” tweeted Sleeping Giants, a liberal activist campaign. “It has leaked the data for all of its users. How many chances do you get after that??”
Parler did not immediately respond to request for comment. So it remains unclear how the new content-moderation update will work and whether existing users will tolerate it. But for now, the app remains unlisted on the iOS App Store. In January, Google also took down the app from the Google Play Store, where it remains unavailable.
