Donald Trump’s Truth Social Yet To Get Google Play's Approval

Former President Donald Trump's Truth Social has been barred from Google Play, making it difficult for users with Android phones to download the app.

According to Axios, Google said that on Aug. 19, they notified Truth Social of "several violations of standard policies in their current app submission." They reiterated that having "effective systems for moderating user-generated content is a condition of our terms of service for any app to go live on Google Play." Google further added that last week Trump’s social media platform wrote back "acknowledging our feedback and saying that they are working on addressing these issues.”

A source said that Google's concerns are related to content such as incitements to violence and physical threats. Trump’s social media platform has "sensitive content" banners that pop up before some posts. They read, "This content may not be suitable for all audiences." But content that threatens violence remains on the platform.

Previously, Devin Nunes, the CEO of Truth Social, called Google a "monopoly," reported BBC.

It was in February that Truth Social was launched on Apple's App Store. But the roll-out was beset by problems. And it is still not available on Google Play, where many apps are downloaded on Android phones.

Truth Social's CEO said last week that the decision on whether the app would be available was "up to the Google Play Store."

Truth Social is often described as a "free speech" platform, but for the app to be downloadable on the vast majority of the world's phones, it needs to be approved by Google and Apple. It was founded by Trump, and it is the platform where the former President chooses to post on social media. He was banned from Facebook and Twitter after the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot. According to critics, Truth Social has a problem with hate speech and disinformation.

Meanwhile, The Verge reported that Truth Social is strapped for cash and is actually struggling to find new users. The platform is reportedly facing a mountain of tech and legal troubles that could doom the future of the former president’s social media platform. The most immediate problem is the platform’s stalled Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) that was initially planned as a way to publicly trade shares in the new company without the diligence of an initial public offering (IPO). SPAC has been delayed, so it has left the Digital World Acquisition Corp., which was expected to take ownership of Truth Social, in an awkward position.