Google approves Trump's Truth Social for Play Store - Reuters

Oct 12 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google has approved erstwhile U.S. President Donald Trump's societal media app Truth Social for organisation successful the Google Play Store, a institution spokesperson said connected Wednesday.

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), which operates Truth Social, is expected to marque the app disposable successful the Play Store shortly, Google said.

"It's been a pleasance to enactment with Google, and we're gladsome they helped america to yet bring Truth Social to each Americans, careless of what instrumentality they use," TMTG's Chief Executive Officer Devin Nunes said successful a statement.

Truth Social, which launched successful the United States successful the Apple App Store successful February, had not antecedently been disposable successful the Play Store owed to insufficient contented moderation, according to a Google spokesperson successful August. Google had expressed concerns to Truth Social astir violations of its Play Store policies prohibiting contented similar carnal threats and incitement to violence.

Without Google and Apple stores, determination is nary casual mode for astir smartphone users to download Truth Social.

Google's Play Store is the main mode users of Android phones successful the United States download apps. Android users tin get apps done competing stores oregon download them straight from a website, though it often requires other steps and information permissions. Truth Social has been disposable done those means adjacent arsenic Google blocked it from the Play Store.

Android phones comprise astir 40% of the U.S. smartphone market.

Truth Social restored Trump's beingness connected societal media much than a twelvemonth aft helium was banned from Twitter Inc (TWTR.N), Facebook (META.O) and Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O)'s YouTube pursuing the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riots, aft helium was accused of posting messages inciting violence.

TMTG has pledged to present an "engaging and censorship-free experience" connected Truth Social, appealing to a basal that feels its views astir specified hot-button topics specified arsenic the result of the 2020 statesmanlike predetermination person been scrubbed from mainstream tech platforms.

News of Google's support was archetypal reported by Axios.

Reporting by Helen Coster successful New York; Additional reporting by Paresh Dave successful Oakland, Anirudh Saligrama and Bhanvi Satija successful Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Deepa Babington, Marguerita Choy and Sherry Jacob-Phillips

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