Gab.ai, the social media platform that was built as an alternative to Twitter, was banned on Google’s Play Store Thursday.
The move will make it impossible for users on Android phones and other Android-powered devices to use the app. According to Google Play Support, the app has been suspended and removed from Google Play as a “policy strike because it violates the hate speech policy” with links to the policy in question.
In December, the app — which bills itself as more welcome to free speech than Twitter — was previously rejected by Apple’s App Store. Gab was told by Apple representatives that the application “includes pornographic content” posted by users — despite how Twitter also features similar user-generated content.
The move to remove Gab from the Play Store follows in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia that left one woman dead.
Gab allows users across political spectrum to post politically incorrect speech. Much like Twitter itself, the platform hosts numerous individuals tied to the alt-right.
However, many high-profile personalities in the alt-right movement, including Richard Spencer, have opted to stick to Twitter as their main social platforms despite opening accounts on Gab. Spencer’s last post on Gab was eight months ago.
“Google has pulled Gab’s Android app from the Google Play Store for ‘hate speech,’” wrote Andrew Torba, the creator of Gab. “This is war.”
The Daily Caller reached out to Google for comment, but they did not offer a response at the time of publication.
Ian Miles Cheong is a journalist and outspoken media critic. You can reach him through social media at @stillgray on Twitter and on Facebook.
