More than a year after Parler, a social media app, was removed from the Play Store, Google has reinstated it.
As per The Verge, a tweet from the social media platform confirmed that the tech company has allowed the app to return to Play Store.
Parler Made Changes to Meet Google Play Store Standards
In January 2021, Google decided to remove Parler from the Play Store due to the platform's "lack of moderation on posts inciting violence at the US Capitol."
Apple also removed Parler from the App Store at around the same time that Google did. But in May 2021, the company allowed its return.
Following its removal from the App Store, Parler made a compromise that it would "scan for hate speech and clean up some posts." The social media app made this agreement to be able to get back to App Store.
Users would find the Android version of Parler still available on the social media app's website. It is available for direct download. However, it is not the same case for the iOS apps.
As per The Verge, Parler also made the same deal with Google to "moderate posts that show up in the Play Store" to be able to return.
In a statement provided to TechCrunch, Google explained its decision to reinstate Parler in the Play Store.
"All apps on Google Play that feature User Generated Content (UGC) are required to implement robust moderation practices that prohibit objectionable content, provide an in-app system for reporting objectionable UGC, take action against that UGC where appropriate, and remove or block abusive users who violate the app's terms of use and/or user policy."
According to Google, they would allow apps to be available on Google Play as long as they follow Play's developer policies.
Furthermore, the company claimed that Parler made "meaningful changes" in order to comply with the company's policies.
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Another Social Media App Faces the Same Challenge as Parler
"We are pleased that Parler is back on Google Play as a native app so that Android users no longer have to side-load," Samuel Lipoff, Parler's chief technology officer, said in a statement.
According to Lipoff, Parler have worked hard to create a more "feature-rich and dynamic user experience" during the time that it was not in the Google Play Store.
Moreover, the chief technology officer encourage people to join Parler as according to him, "now is the perfect time" to join the platform.
He further added that by joining Parler, people will "rediscover the non-partisan platform where we enable people to speak freely."
Another social media app is in negotiation with Google to be able to return to Play Store. Truth Social, former president Donald Trump's social network, is also facing similar challenges as Parler.
According Digital World Acquisition Corp., the company behind Truth Social, they are currently in talk with Google to be reinstated in Play Store.
However, according to CNN, Truth Social wasn't able to meet Google Play's standard for content moderation in order for it to be offered to Play Store.
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