Truth Social Barred From Google

Donald Trump’s social media platform Truth Social has been barred from the Google Play store over alleged “content moderation” issues.

Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes said the Android version of the app is ready and waiting on approval from the Play Store.

“However, a Google spokesperson said in a statement that the platform lacks the “effective” content moderation needed to meet the Google Play app store’s terms of service,” The Hill reported.

“On August 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,” the spokesperson said.

CEO Devin Nunes claimed last week that he didn't know why it was taking Google "so long" to approve Truth Social for its app store.

But Google says it told Truth Social why on Aug. 19 — and the social media app replied that it was working on the issues. https://t.co/nNCwpEhmZJ

— Axios (@axios) August 30, 2022

JUST IN – Google has not approved Trump's Truth Social app yet — the big tech giant alleges "policy violations" and insufficient content moderation, a spokesperson told Axios.

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 30, 2022

Google refusing to allow Truth Social on its app store due to insufficient "content moderation."

No such issues for Facebook, where several mass shootings have been streamed live.

— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) August 30, 2022

Axios first reported on Google’s hold up of Truth Social:

Details: A source says that Google’s concerns relate to content such as physical threats and incitements to violence.

• Truth Social does have “sensitive content” banners that appear before some posts that read “This content may not be suitable for all audiences,” but content that threatens violence remains on the platform.
• For example, in response to a post from former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, an account called “TheVictim24” posted last week, “It’s be nice if you people weren’t just okay with the military and police stage a rebellion and framing civilians. Zero people trust the police and if the military comes in, we’ll kill them. Someone admit this nation needs to be nuked because it’s satanic.”
• That post wasn’t labeled.

Workaround: Truth Social could offer Android users a version of its app via its website or other channels — an option not available to developers on Apple’s iOS mobile operating system — but the company has not done so.

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The big picture: Truth Social’s technological challenges come amid broader financial and legal disputes.

• The company owes one of its tech vendors over $1.6 million, Axios has confirmed, and the blank-check company looking to merge with it and take it public is under investigation by federal securities regulators.

Be smart: Google and other tech platforms have reason to proceed carefully with Trump’s new app.

• Last year, many platforms banned Trump along with some right-wing apps and personalities, following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
• Google pulled Parler, a social media app for conservatives, from its Play Store at that time, citing moderation issues. Parler still appears to be banned from the Play Store.

“The president launched Truth Social after being barred from nearly every major social media platform following the protest at the Capitol on January 6,” The Gateway Pundit noted.

The platform reportedly has over a half a million daily active users, including Trump.

According to their website, Truth Social “is America’s ‘Big Tent’ social media platform that encourages an open, free, and honest global conversation without discriminating on the basis of political ideology.”

“Because Truth Social isn’t available on Android operating systems, around 44% of U.S. smartphone users can’t download it,” Axios added.