Google has suspended the social media app Parler from its Play Store, citing concerns about incitement of violence. The move comes after Apple took similar action yesterday and follows the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday..
In a statement, Google said it had removed Parler from the Play Store after finding “ongoing and urgent threats to public safety.” The company said it had notified Parler of the suspension and that the app would remain inaccessible until the company addresses these concerns..
Parler is a popular app among conservatives and far-right users. It has been criticized for allowing hate speech and misinformation to spread on its platform. In recent months, Parler has also become a hub for organizing protests against COVID-19 restrictions and the results of the 2020 presidential election..
The suspension of Parler from the Play Store is a significant blow to the company. The Play Store is the largest app store in the world, and its removal from the store will make it much more difficult for Parler to reach new users..
It is unclear how Parler will respond to the suspension. The company has not yet commented on the matter, but it is likely to challenge the decision..
The suspension of Parler is the latest in a series of actions taken by tech companies against social media platforms that have been used to incite violence. In recent months, Twitter and Facebook have also taken steps to remove content that could lead to violence or the spread of misinformation..
The actions taken by tech companies have raised concerns about censorship and the suppression of free speech. However, the companies have argued that they have a responsibility to protect their users from harm and that they are taking necessary steps to do so..
The suspension of Parler is a reminder of the challenges that social media companies face in balancing their responsibilities to their users with their need to protect the public from harm. It remains to be seen how the company will respond to the suspension and how it will impact the future of the app..
