Google approves Donald Trump’s Truth Social app on Play Store

Google has approved former US President Donald Trump’s social media app Truth Social for distribution in the Google Play Store.

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which operates Truth Social, is expected to make the app available in the Play Store shortly, according to Google.

‘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 was banned from Google’s Play Store over moderation concerns 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.

The tech giant had said that it wouldn’t host the Truth Social app until it offered ‘effective’ systems to moderate user content.

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.

Now the app will be available on 44% of US handsets that run the Android operating system. Other marketplaces — like Apple’s App Store — already offer the app.

Truth Social restored Trump’s presence on social media more than a year after he was banned from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube following the January 6, 2021, US 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.

Many prominent users have been found to post baseless conspiracy theories and other forms of disinformation on the platform.

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