The Parler social network has become a haven for far-right personalities who say they have been censored by other social media platforms.
Google's decision follows a report by BuzzFeed News that Apple has threatened to remove Parler from the iOS App Store.
After Google announced it was banning Parler, a social media network, from its app store for inciting violence, CEO John Matze said the ban was "a awful way to handle this". Google has already banned the application, as the listing is no longer available on Google Play. A screenshot of Apple's inquiry posted on the Parler app reveals that the company is threatening to remove the app from the app store, citing a violation of its safety rules that ensure the safety and protection of its users. "All developers agree to these terms and we have reminded Parler of this clear policy in recent months", Google said in a statement.
On Friday, Google and Apple both suspended Parler from their app stores, claiming some of the political posts on the platform incite violence and need to be regulated.
In an email to E.W. Scripps, Google confirmed that it had suspended Parler from the Play Store.
Parler was first released in 2018, and quickly caught on as a popular platform for right-wing activists and politicians, especially those banned by Twitter and Facebook.
According to an article by Business Insider, Parler did not give any response to a certain request for comment regarding this story.
Notable users include Trump children Eric and Ivanka while Rebekah Mercer, daughter of hedge-fund investor Robert Mercer, is one of the platform's financial backers.
For its part, Matze doubled down on Parler's commitment to free speech in a series of posts on the platform Friday.
Parler's user agreement states that it may terminate accounts or remove content that engages in illegal conduct or endeavours to "infringe the legal rights of others".
On Twitter, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Apple and Google to take action against the apps. Apple said in the letter that, "Content that threatens the well-being of others or is meant to incite violence or other lawless acts has never been acceptable on the App Store". The app, which prides itself in offering very little content moderation under the guise of protecting free speech on the internet, has played host to millions of extremists in 2020 and into 2021. The email also says, "We won't distribute apps that present risky and harmful content". In a statement, Twitter said, "If it is clear that another account is being used for the purposes of evading a ban, it is also subject to suspension. Every auto bomb, every illegal cell phone conversation, every illegal crime committed on an iPhone, Apple must also be responsible for", he said.
In the aftermath of the violence in Washington D.C., a US-based group called Sleeping Giants launched the #PullParler campaign, calling on tech companies tied to Parler to cut the company off because hate speech and incitement to violence can easily be found on the site.
