Trump is talking on his social media but nobody is listening - Why isn’t Truth Social available on Google Play?
After being banned from mainstream platforms the former President launched his own ‘free speech’ alternative, but has suffered countless setbacks.
Google continues to refuse to make Truth Social, the Trump-backed social networking site, available for download on its Android app store. The company says that the app does not satisfy the content moderation requirements for products to be listed on the Google Play Store.
In the aftermath of his ban from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and a whole host of major platforms, former President Trump introduced Truth Social to reconnect with his supporters. Since its launch in February 2022 the site has attracted right-wing commentators and activists who felt that they were being unfairly silenced on mainstream apps.
Truth Social has failed to meet Google’s policies on preventing the incitement and physical threats of violence.
“On August 19 we notified Truth Social of several violations of standard policies in their current app submission and 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,” a Google spokesperson told Axios. “Last week, Truth Social wrote back acknowledging our feedback and saying that they are working on addressing these issues.”
Earlier this week the Trump Technology & Media Group (TTMG) claimed that it had “continuously worked in good faith” with Google to resolve the issue.
The company said: “It is our belief that all Americans should have access to Truth Social no matter what devices they use. We look forward to Google approving Truth Social at their earliest convenience.”
Trump’s Truth Social has money troubles
While failure to get listed on the Google Play Store is a problem for Trump’s hopes of creating a social networking site to rival the sway he held on Twitter, he faces more significant issues in the short-term.
Truth Social currently owes an internet infrastructure company called RightForge around $1.6 million in backdated payments. The agreement between the two conservative-facing companies provides Trump’s site with the cloud hosting support needed to operate.
If the company fails to produce the cash needed to settle those debts then Truth Social risks being the subject of an arbitration case in which the vendor, RightForge, could seek to impose a legal requirement that the money be repaid.
But it does not seem to have reached that point yet and CEO Martin Avila told Axios: “RightForge is committed to servicing the client.”
“We were there from the ground floor and we support the president and all of his endeavors and we’re committed to building a free speech American ideas based internet.”
Earlier this month the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected an application from Trump’s team to trademark the term ‘Truth Social’, ruling that the name was already being used by at least two other companies.
Josh Gerben, a trademark lawyer in Washington DC, said: “Ideally, you would pick a name where this wasn’t going to happen.”