Apple CEO Tim Cook has defended the removal of Parler from his company’s App Store – saying he sees no “intersection” between the right to freedom of expression and the ability to provoke violence.
Apple and Google have launched a social networking app with conservative tendencies, and Amazon – Web Services has dropped Parler from its servers – following the violent riots in the US Chapter on January 6 that killed five people, including of a policeman.
“We looked at the incitement to violence that was there. And we don’t think freedom of speech and incitement to violence have an intersection, “Cook told host Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday.
Cook said there are over 2 million apps in the App Store and expects them all to meet the terms of service.
“Obviously, we do not control what is on the internet, but we have never seen that our platform should be a simple replication of the internet. We have rules and regulations and we just want people to follow them, “Apple’s chief executive said in an interview on Sunday.
Asked by Wallace whether removing Parler from Apple would lead users deeper underground, Cook said that should not be the case.
“It simply came to our notice then. And so, if he gathers his moderation, he would return there, “he said.
After Twitter and a number of other Big Tech platforms banned President Trump from commenting on the chaos at the Capitol, many of his supporters gathered at Parler, which has fewer content restrictions.
John Martze, CEO of Parler, sued Amazon alleging violations of US antitrust law to remove the social networking company from its servers.
He said he and his family went into hiding because of death threats and constant harassment.