Apple Removes Wimkin from App Store as Tech Firms Crackdown on Dangerous Content During Transition: WSJ

Apple Inc. has removed the Wimkin social media platform from its App Store, as part of a growing crackdown by tech companies on potentially dangerous content during the presidential transition.

The tech giant on Tuesday suspended Wimkin, a small site touting itself as a haven of free speech, for content that included calls for civil war and the arrest of Vice President Mike Pence, according to founder of Wimkin, Jason Sheppard, and tapes of his correspondence. with Apple.APPLE IPHONE ASKS ‘RUGGED’ BEFORE QUARTERLY RESULTS, ANALYSIS SAYS

Mr Sheppard said Thursday that Wimkin’s small team had cut dozens of positions and that a group was trying to stage a “Million Militia March” at President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week.

Apple Inc. has removed the Wimkin social media platform from its App Store, as part of a growing crackdown by tech companies on potentially dangerous content during the presidential transition. JOSH EDELSON / AFP via Getty Images)

“Once it was reported to us, we took care of it,” said Mr. Sheppard.

Mr. Sheppard said content deletions on the platform, which has 300,000 users and mimics some of Facebook’s features, are paltry compared to content deletions by much larger competitors.

“I can’t fault them for looking at it,” Mr. Sheppard said of Apple. “I just wish they gave us a chance.”

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Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Click to learn more at WSJ.com