Apple’s Tim Cook explains how Parler can return to App Store

Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken to the TV to explain that the right to free speech isn’t Apple’s problem – it’s those who abuse that right in order to incite violence it is attempting to control to when it comes to taking Parler off the App store — and there’s still a way back for the right leaning echo chamber.

Just stop the violence

Speaking with FOX News Sunday, Cook stressed that in the event Parler manages to get its act together to moderate against incitements to violence, the service can return to the App Store.

The interview wil broadcast January 17. What follows are some of the highlights of what was said.

Apple CEO Tim Cook told anchor Chris Wallace that they looked at the incitement to violence that was on Parler and “don’t consider that free speech.”

Cook added that they’ve only suspended them and “if they get their moderation together, they would be back at the Appl Store.

https://twitter.com/jacknicas/status/1350102829776723969?s=20

ANCHOR CHRIS WALLACE: 

“How did you decide to balance free speech with objectionable content?”

APPLE CEO TIM COOK:

“We looked at the incitement to violence that was on there and we — we don’t consider that free speech and incitement to violence has an — has an intersection.”

WALLACE:

“What about the argument that by taking Parler off Apple, in addition to what other companies are doing, that you’re just driving these people, these views further underground?”

COOK:

“Well, we’ve only suspended them, Chris. And so, if — if they get their moderation together, they would be back on there.”

[Also read: Are Apple execs dancing as evidence of iPhone 12 ‘supercycle’ grows?]

There was a little more:

COOK:

“Big tech is not monolithic. You know, there’s several companies. They do different things. For us, we’re always trying to do the right thing.”

WALLACE:

“Isn’t Big Tech restricting free speech?”

COOK:

“We have an app store that has about 2 million apps in it. And we have terms of services for these apps. We obviously don’t control what’s on the internet, but we’ve never viewed that our platform should be a simple replication of the internet. We have rules and regulations and we just ask that people abide by those.”

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