Apple App Store Rejects Free-Speech Twitter Alternative ‘Gab’ AGAIN, Blames User Content

Apple’s App Store have rejected free-speech Twitter alternative “Gab” for a second time, citing “objectionable” user content on the social network.

Despite the fact that Apple claims 50% of apps are reviewed within 24 hours, and 90% of apps are reviewed within 48 hours, Gab was awaiting review for 17 days before receiving a rejection notice from the store.

In their rejection notice, Apple cited “Mean-spirited and objectionable content,” adding that they “found references to religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or other targeted groups that could be offensive to many users.”

Apple also claimed that their decision was partly based a single use of the N-word by one user, despite the fact that the word can be seen thousands of times on Twitter and other social networks available on the App Store.

The app was originally rejected by Apple for containing pornographic images posted by users, despite the fact that similar images can also be found on Twitter or Tumblr.

“Once again the double standards of Apple and Silicon Valley are on full display,” proclaimed Gab CEO Andrew Torba in an email to Breitbart Tech. “‘Objectionable and mean-spirited’ content is completely subjective and impossible to combat completely on any social network. Gab believes in individual responsibility and we provide our users with the tools to filter out any words, phrases, hashtags, or other users that they personally find “‘objectionable or mean-spirited.'”

“Apple is holding Gab to higher standards than that of Big Social. We believe that the 17 day review time and rejection of our app on the first full day of Donald Trump’s Presidency was no mistake, but a rather a political statement by Apple against our very pro-Trump Gab community,” Torba continued. “Our next step is to appeal this rejection and to highlight the thousands of examples of ‘objectionable and mean-spirited’ content in other apps that are currently on the App Store. We will not tolerate this double standard against our community.”

Following a crackdown on conservatives by other social networks, most prominently Facebook and Twitter, Gab has attracted nearly 150,000 disenfranchised users, including InfoWars commentator Paul Joseph Watson, author Mike Cernovich, The Rebel’s Lauren Southern, and Breitbart Senior Editor MILO, along with various other journalists from both the left and right.

Since the platform’s conception, Torba has been banned from a Silicon Valley startup group, suspended from Facebook, and had his Gab features borrowed by Twitter in attempt to keep their network from dying.

Charlie Nash is a reporter for Breitbart Tech. You can follow him on Twitter @MrNashington or like his page at Facebook.