You might recall that as part of being “Thanos Snapped” off the Internet, the Parler App was removed from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store because of the lack of moderation. That appears to have changed as CNN is reporting that Apple has approved Parler’s latest attempt to return to the App Store follow improvements to the moderation system:
Apple has approved Parler’s return to the iOS app store following improvements the social media company made to better detect and moderate hate speech and incitement, according to a letter the iPhone maker sent to Congress on Monday.
The decision clears the way for Parler, an app popular with conservatives including some members of the far right, to be downloaded once again on Apple devices. The letter — addressed to Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Ken Buck and obtained by CNN — explained that since the app was removed from Apple’s platform in January for violations of its policies, Parler “has proposed updates to its app and the app’s content moderation practices.”
On April 14, Apple’s app review team told Parler that its proposed changes were sufficient, the letter continued. Now, all Parler needs to do is to flip the switch.
“Apple anticipates that the updated Parler app will become available immediately upon Parler releasing it,” Apple’s letter said.
Now Apple is under a fair amount of governmental scrutiny at the moment. So this might be simply a way to try to change the the narrative. Or maybe Parler actually is becoming more responsible as evidenced by this. Who knows? But this might be interesting to watch as I believe that the answer will become clear shortly.
Parler Returns To Apple’s App Store With AI Based Moderation
Posted in Commentary with tags Parler on May 18, 2021 by itnerdParler, the social network favored by the far-right, is back up on Apple’s App Store and will apparently rely on AI algorithms to automatically flag hate speech. But only on iPhones. Not on Android phones or on the web according to the Washington Post:
Posts that are labeled “hate” by Parler’s new artificial intelligence moderation system won’t be visible on iPhones or iPads. There’s a different standard for people who look at Parler on other smartphones or on the Web: They will be able to see posts marked as “hate,” which includes racial slurs, by clicking through to see them.
That’s great I suppose for those who are within Apple’s walled garden. But it really doesn’t address the issue of Parler not exactly being great for civil discourse. I say that because those who really want to see all the hate, intolerance, and conspiracy theories that they can handle will simply use Android or the web. And the flip side of that is that AI isn’t perfect. Thus it is going to flag some things that shouldn’t be flagged, and miss stuff that should be flagged. In other words, it is not a solution to Parler’s larger issues. But they’re back on the App Store so I suppose it’s a win for Parler.
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