New York: Former US President Donald Trump’s social media platform has been barred from Google Play for violating its policies on prohibiting content like physical threats and incitement to violence.
The move makes it difficult for users with Android phones to download the app, the BBC reported. Devin Nunes, the CEO of Truth Social, has previously called Google a “monopoly”.
Truth Social was launched on Apple’s App Store in February, though the roll-out was beset by problems. The app, isn’t available on Google Play, where the vast majority of apps are downloaded on Android phones.
Truth Social is often described as a “free speech” platform, the BBC said. However, for the app to be downloadable on the vast majority of the world’s phones it needs to be approved by Apple and Google.
Far from Truth Social being a place of unfettered free speech, the platform in fact has many rules on what you can and cannot say. In fact, Truth Social has a long list, in its Terms of Service, of things that can and cannot be posted.
The platform was founded by Trump, and is where the former president chooses to post on social media. Trump was banned from Twitter and Facebook after last year’s US Capitol riot.
Google says it has offered Truth Social advice on how to fix the problems. Truth Social did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.
Discussion about this post