|
Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which operates Truth
Social, is expected to make the app available in the Play Store
shortly, Google said.
"It's been a pleasure to work with Google, and we're glad they
helped us to finally bring Truth Social to all Americans,
regardless of what device they use," TMTG's Chief Executive
Officer Devin Nunes said in a statement.
Truth Social, which launched in the United States in the Apple
App Store in February, had not previously been available in the
Play Store due to insufficient content moderation, according to
a Google spokesperson in August. Google had expressed concerns
to Truth Social about violations of its Play Store policies
prohibiting content like physical threats and incitement to
violence.
Without Google and Apple stores, there is no easy way for most
smartphone users to download Truth Social.
Google's Play Store is the main way users of Android phones in
the United States download apps. Android users can get apps
through competing stores or download them directly from a
website, though it often requires extra steps and security
permissions. Truth Social has been available through those means
even as Google blocked it from the Play Store.
Android phones comprise about 40% of the U.S. smartphone market.
Truth Social restored Trump's presence on social media more than
a year after he was banned from Twitter Inc, Facebook and
Alphabet Inc's YouTube following the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol
riots, after he was accused of posting messages inciting
violence.
TMTG has pledged to deliver an "engaging and censorship-free
experience" on Truth Social, appealing to a base that feels its
views around such hot-button topics such as the outcome of the
2020 presidential election have been scrubbed from mainstream
tech platforms.
News of Google's approval was first reported by Axios.
(Reporting by Helen Coster in New York; Additional reporting by
Paresh Dave in Oakland, Anirudh Saligrama and Bhanvi Satija in
Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Deepa Babington,
Marguerita Choy and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
