Martech: Martech is Marketing Logo
  • Topics
    Digital Transformation
    Marketing Operations
    Data
    Customer & Digital Experience
    Performance Marketing
    Marketing Management
    Special Reports
    MarTech Topics
  • Conference
  • Webinars
  • Intelligence Reports
  • White Papers
  • What is MarTech
    Mission
    Staff
    Newsletter
    Search Engine Land
    Third Door Media

Processing...Please wait.

MarTech » Performance Marketing » Gab.ai sues Google after removal from Play store for hate-speech violations

Gab.ai sues Google after removal from Play store for hate-speech violations

Social network created as 'safe space for the alt-right' claims Google abused its market power.

Greg Sterling on September 16, 2017 at 10:40 am

Described as a “digital safe space for the far right” or the “alt-right’s very own Twitter,” social site Gab.ai is suing Google parent Alphabet for alleged violations of antitrust law. The company filed its suit after its Android app was removed from Google Play.

According to the company’s complaint, the Gab app was never allowed on Apple’s iOS App Store. Gab’s app was reportedly approved for Google Play in May 2017. However, the complaint says that Google notified Gab in August that its app was being suspended for violating Google Play’s developer terms.

Gab says its mission is to “put people and free speech first.” The company asserts its objective is to bring together “folks together of all races, religions, and creeds who share in the common ideals of Western values, individual liberty and the free and flow of information.”

It’s difficult to credibly argue, however, that the site isn’t at least partly intended as a network for white supremacists and others like them to advocate extreme positions without fear of “censorship.” Gab was founded in 2016 in response to Twitter suspensions of several prominent far-right figures, such as Richard B. Spencer and Milo Yiannopoulos.

The company’s frog logo is a nod to Pepe the frog, which has become associated with white supremacist, anti-Semitic and neo-nazi hate groups. Gab CEO Andrew Torba told an interviewer, however, that it was a “religious reference, a symbol of exodus and rebirth.”

Gab argues Google’s suspension of its app is an effort to unfairly use its market power to censor positions and speech it doesn’t agree with. In a larger context, the suit is part of the alt-right’s efforts to push back against perceived Silicon Valley “political correctness.” In August Gab crowdsourced $1 million in funding and celebrated with an expletive-laden Tweet decrying “Silicon Valley elitist trash.”

Google says by contrast that this is a straightforward case of violating its developer terms and policies that prohibit apps which “advocate against groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, nationality, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

Google provided us with the following statement about the lawsuit:

This claim is baseless and we’re happy to defend our decision in court if need be. In order to be on the Play Store, social networking apps need to demonstrate a sufficient level of moderation, including for content that encourages violence and advocates hate against groups of people. This is a long-standing rule and clearly stated in our developer policies. This developer is welcome to appeal the suspension if they’ve addressed the policy violations and are compliant with our Developer Program Policies

With hate groups emboldened by the 2016 election and now more assertively using social networks, online ads and other digital media tools to promote their positions, it creates a challenging climate for digital publishers and platforms to allow legitimate debate and discourse without becoming unwitting tools of hate.


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily MarTech. Staff authors are listed here.


New on MarTech

    How clean, organized and actionable is your data?
    Replacement Survey: The top 5 solutions replaced
    What’s the biggest hidden secret in Google Ads?
    Native video tops social media in brand awareness study
    Worsening economy has more shoppers getting online info before making in-store purchases

About The Author

Greg Sterling
Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land, a member of the programming team for SMX events and the VP, Market Insights at Uberall.

Related Topics

Performance Marketing

Get the daily newsletter digital marketers rely on.

Processing...Please wait.

See terms.

ATTEND OUR EVENTS The MarTech Conference logo.

September 28-29, 2022: Fall

Start Training Now: Master Classes

Start Discovering Now: Spring



The SMX Conference logo.

Start Training Now:: SMX Advanced

November 14-15, 2022: SMX Next

March 8-9, 2022: Master Classes

Webinars

Agencies: Grow Revenue Streams Through Web Accessibility & Compliance

Protect Your Paid Advertising Spend Against Ad Fraud and Invalid Traffic

Build an Integrated Search Strategy Across Google, Amazon and YouTube

See More Webinars
Intelligence Reports

Enterprise SEO Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

Enterprise Identity Resolution Platforms

Email Marketing Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

See More Intelligence Reports
Featured White Paper

Site Search 101

See More Whitepapers

Receive daily marketing news & analysis.

Processing...Please wait.

Topics

  • Transformation
  • Operations
  • Data
  • Experience
  • Performance
  • Management
  • All Topics
  • Home

Our Events

  • MarTech
  • Search Marketing Expo - SMX

About

  • What is MarTech
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Marketing Opportunities
  • Staff

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Newsletters
  • RSS

© 2022 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved.