Apple to Reinstate Parler, the App at Center of Free-Speech Debate -- 2nd Update

By Matt Grossman 

Apple Inc. plans to make the social-media app Parler available through its App Store again, the computer and smartphone company said in a letter to lawmakers on Monday.

Apple removed Parler from its app store in January, citing objectionable content. In a letter to Sen. Mike Lee of Utah and Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, Apple said Monday that a revised version of the Parler app with improved content moderation would be approved for release to Apple users.

The letter from Apple was posted on Twitter by Mr. Buck, and it was confirmed by Mr. Lee's office. Apple declined to comment.

In the letter, Apple stood by its initial decision to remove Parler from the app store, citing posts that denigrated races and religions, promoted Nazi ideology and called for violence. Since January, Apple has had "substantial conversations" with Parler, and the app maker has proposed updates to its platform and its content-moderation policies, Apple said.

"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, " the letter said. The letter came in response to an inquiry that Messrs. Lee and Buck sent to Apple last month.

Mr. Buck said on Twitter that the decision was a "huge win for free speech."

Parler LLC, which launched in 2018, landed in the middle of a debate about internet companies and free speech as it grew in popularity among supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

Parler is similar in format to Twitter Inc.'s platform. Its rise coincided with more aggressive efforts on Twitter's part to flag or remove content Twitter deemed objectionable or misleading. As of February, Parler said it had more than 20 million users, according to Mark Meckler, its interim chief executive.

Parler held itself out as a Twitter competitor that would take a hands-off approach moderating content. That policy made the platform an attractive online meeting place for the president's supporters, who grew aggrieved at Twitter's approach to content moderation as Mr. Trump disputed the results of the 2020 election and as Twitter eventually suspended his account.

After the mob attack on the Capitol Building on Jan. 6, Apple and other big tech companies moved quickly to sever ties with Parler, which had given some people involved in the attack a forum for discussing their plans. Amazon.com Inc. suspended Parler from its web-hosting services. Alphabet Inc., like Apple, also removed Parler from its app store.

Apple had previously denied an earlier attempt by Parler to seek reinstatement.

Write to Matt Grossman at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 19, 2021 13:25 ET (17:25 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.