Ahead of its Big Event This Week Apple Will Reinstate Controversial Parler

Tech giant Apple is gearing up for its big virtual event tomorrow where it is expected to showcase new products and hardware.

As the world awaits the event, called “Spring Loaded,” Wall Street is also digesting news that the iPhone maker will be allowing controversial social media app Parler to get back into the company’s App Store.

It was back in January when Apple had removed the app after it was widely used to publicize the U.S. Capitol riot that occurred on January 6th.

According to a letter released on Monday by Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, Apple’s App Review department had approved changes and an updated version of Parler will be approved by Apple.

Parler has updated its app and improved its content moderation, an Apple official wrote in the letter.

“Apple anticipates that the updated Parler app will become available immediately upon Parler releasing it,” Timothy Powderly, Apple’s senior director for government affairs, wrote in the letter, that was addressed to Buck and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

In a tweet, Buck said the decision was a “huge win for free speech.” The Parler app was not available for download on an iPhone on Monday morning.

Apple had said that it removed Parler because the app violated Apple’s app guidelines around violent content. Apple said it was not a permanent ban at the time and only a suspension, and could be “cured” if Parler added moderation and removed violent content.

“And so, if they get their moderation together, they would be back on there,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said on Fox News in January.
The company had said that it did not coordinate with the other companies to remove Parler.

“Apple made an independent decision to remove Parler for non-compliance with the guidelines, and it did not coordinate or otherwise consult with Google or Amazon with respect to that decision,” Powderly wrote in the letter.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.