More bad news emerged yesterday for Donald Trump’s Twitter rip-off Truth Social platform: it remains barred on the Google Play store, denying potential access to around 44% of US smartphone users.
Truth Social launched on the Apple Store in February. Almost immediately, it was beset by problems, with users reporting problems trying to create accounts. It has never been available on the Google Play store, but Truth Social executives have previously indicated it was only a matter of time.
Related: Everything is crumbling around Donald Trump and he can’t find a single good lawyer to help him out
In fact, only last week, the app’s CEO Devin Nunes was asked during a TV interview why it wasn’t available on Google Play. He said, “That’s up to the Google Play store. We’re waiting on them to approve us. I don’t know what’s taking so long.”
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Google called BS on this.
Approached by several media outlets, asking why the app was not on Google Play, the tech giant gave a blunt response.
“On Aug. 19, we notified Truth Social of several violations of standard policies in their current app submission and reiterated that having effective systems for moderating user-generated content is a condition of our terms of service for any app to go live on Google Play,” it told Axios.
“Last week Truth Social wrote back acknowledging our feedback and saying that they are working on addressing these issues.”
Truth Social: Financial difficulties
Truth Social has promoted itself as a bastion of uncensored free speech. However, in order to get itself on to the Apple store and Google Play, it must comply with some regulations. It does offer a list under its terms of service of things users cannot post. It also marks some postings with a “sensitive content” banner.
However, critics say that far too much stuff is still allowed to slip through the net. They point to a large amount of conspiracy theories re-shared without moderation on the platform.
News that Trump’s social media baby remains barred on Google Play follows revelations of financial difficulties. Fox Business reported last week that Truth Social allegedly owed $1.6million to a company that provided its web-hosting infrastructure. The company concerned, RightForge, was now contemplating legal action.
Related: Trump throws hysterical hissy fit and everyone’s thinking the same thing
On Twitter, many have called for Apple to follow Google’s lead.
BREAKING NEWS: Americans all across the country demand that Apple follow Google Play Store’s lead and remove Trump’s TruthSocial app from its App Store for refusing to moderate bigotry, racism, and violent threats. RT TO MAKE SURE THAT APPLE SEES THIS!
— Omar Rivero (@OmarRiverosays) August 30, 2022
Hey @Apple, why aren’t you following @GooglePlay’s lead to remove the dangerous TruthSocial app? Take a stand! Enough is enough!
— Lu Votes Blue (@lu_nonni) August 31, 2022
Hey @Apple why haven’t you followed @GooglePlay ‘s lead??!!??
— John Adams’ Ghost 🇺🇲🇺🇦🌊 (@Tired2Iam) August 30, 2022
BREAKING: Google has removed ‘Truth Social’ from the Google Play store due to its lack of content moderation, including threats of violence against current and former government officials. @Apple, you’re up.
— Andrew Wortman 🏳️🌈🇺🇸 (@AmoneyResists) August 30, 2022
It all makes a tweet a couple of days ago by Dan Rather seem rather prescient.
Will Truth Social also be buried at Bedminster?
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) August 29, 2022
Mister P
Apple definitely needs to step up and prevent a platform for hatred and lies from spreading.
CNY1983
why not START TAKING DOWN NAMES AND KICKING SOME ASS from the subscribers?
Vince
I can’t even imagine trying to moderate that site. The very reason these shit stains get together is over extreme hate for those different and overthrowing the government.
CatholicXXX
That twitter has been shadow banning anyone that doesn’t share the same beliefs as the head nazi. So much for “free speech.”
Kangol2
Twitter is a private company, and has every right to ban people spreading lies and fomenting violence, like Don the Con. “Free speech” doesn’t apply, but of course you know that and if you don’t you need to catch up!
Mr. Stadnick
It seems you do not know the difference between a private company and a public utility.
Bosch
Oh yeah, the Nazis who are famous for forcing people to be nice to eachother.
“Free speech” means you can say what you want without legal repercussions. The way Putin puts people in jail for calling the war a war, that’s a violation of free speech. The way schools prohibit discussion of anything related to gay people in certain states, that’s a violation of free speech.
A social media platform removing messages that do not comply with the terms of use, the terms of use which each user accepts upon account creation, that is not a violation of free speech.
Kangol2
Fascist Social is so pathetic, or as Don the Con would and should say about himself and his gross and ever-expanding criminality, “Sad!”
Prax07
Troth Sentinel, as Trumpie calls it, should go down in flames, like it’s users tried to do to Democracy on J6. Apple needs to get moving and ban it.
johncp56
shit Twitter suspended me months ago for very little, that con creep is completely delusional, one thing as a civilian, but anyone going into public offices we get to go up in you, now it is the laws turn to open your con grift game, LOL get the popcorn