Trump's Truth Social app is not available on the Google Play Store due to a lack of content moderation, Google says.
The company issued a statement today, several days after Truth Social CEO Devin Nunes implied in a TV interview Google was responsible for the holdup."When are we going to be available on Android? Well look, that’s up to the Google Play Store. We’re waiting on them to approve us,” Nunes told Real America’s Voice. "I don’t know what’s taking so long.”
Google tells PCMag that Truth Social has been made well-aware of why the app still isn’t available on the Play Store.
“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 company said in a statement. “Last week Truth Social wrote back acknowledging our feedback and saying that they are working on addressing these issues.”
Axios was first to report the news.
The company also told PCMag that Nunes misrepresented the ongoing dialogue Google is having with Truth Social about how to meet the app store’s requirements. Google points out the Play Store’s policies prohibit content that includes physical threats and incitements to violence.
Truth Social does have some content-moderation systems already in place to take down illegal activities. Nevertheless, some posts that imply incitements of violence can still circulate there. Earlier this month, the US House Committee on Oversight and Reform sent a letter to Truth Social to voice concern about a surge of online threats appearing on the platform after the FBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.
“One user on Truth Social posted, ‘f*ck the Feds! The Second Amendment is not about shooting deer! Lock and load!’ Another wrote, ‘Arm yourselves! We are about to enter into Civil War!’”
In response to Google, Truth Social's parent Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) issued a statement that says: "TMTG has continuously worked in good faith with Google to ensure that the Truth Social Android App complies with Google's policies without compromising our promise to be a haven for free speech... We look forward to Google approving Truth Social at their earliest convenience."
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Still, Trump's company implied that threats of violence can circulate on other social media platforms such as Twitter, which is available on the Google Play Store. TMTG cited a still-available tweet from US Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-California) about the US going to war with gun-owners who want to protect the Second Amendment.
Tweet may have been deleted
"Moreover, some of our competitors' apps are allowed in the Google Play Store despite rampantly violating Google's prohibition on sexual content and other policies, whereas Truth Social has zero tolerance for sexually explicit content," TMTG added.
In the meantime, Google says Truth Social isn’t banned from the Play Store. In fact, the company points out that Trump’s social media platform is currently available for pre-order there.
Truth Social is also available on the Apple App Store and over the web.
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As an expert in technology, particularly in the domain of mobile applications, app store policies, and content moderation, I can shed light on the situation surrounding Trump's Truth Social app and its absence from the Google Play Store.
First and foremost, it's crucial to understand the context of the issue. Truth Social, the social media platform launched by Trump's Media & Technology Group (TMTG), is facing obstacles in gaining approval on the Google Play Store. The primary reason, as stated by Google, is a lack of effective content moderation systems, which is a prerequisite for any app to be listed on the Play Store.
The evidence supporting this claim comes directly from Google, which issued a statement to PCMag. According to Google, on August 19, they informed Truth Social about multiple policy violations in the app's submission. These violations were related to standard policies, and Google reiterated the importance of having robust systems for moderating user-generated content. The statement also mentions that Truth Social acknowledged this feedback and stated that they were working on addressing the issues.
The specific policies at play here involve prohibiting content that includes physical threats and incitements to violence. Google emphasizes the importance of these policies to maintain a safe and responsible app ecosystem on the Play Store.
In response to the delay, Truth Social's CEO, Devin Nunes, had previously implied in a TV interview that Google was responsible for the app's holdup on the Play Store. However, Google refuted this claim, stating that Nunes had misrepresented the ongoing dialogue between Google and Truth Social regarding the app store's requirements.
The content moderation concerns are not unfounded. The article highlights instances where Truth Social posts implied incitements of violence, leading to concerns from the US House Committee on Oversight and Reform. This further strengthens Google's stance on the importance of effective content moderation.
It's essential to note that Truth Social has already implemented some content moderation systems to take down illegal activities, but the article suggests that posts implying incitements of violence can still circulate on the platform.
In response to Google's statement, Trump's Media & Technology Group emphasized that they have been working in good faith to comply with Google's policies without compromising their commitment to free speech. They expressed optimism about Google approving Truth Social at the earliest convenience.
One interesting point raised by TMTG is the comparison with other social media platforms, such as Twitter, which is available on the Google Play Store despite instances of threats of violence. TMTG argues that Truth Social has zero tolerance for sexually explicit content, unlike some of its competitors allowed on the Play Store.
In summary, the situation revolves around Google's insistence on effective content moderation systems for Truth Social to be listed on the Play Store. The evidence comes from official statements by Google and TMTG, and the context includes concerns about incitements of violence on the platform. The comparison with other social media apps highlights the complexities and potential inconsistencies in app store policies.
