Parler reveals strange things it bans as people suspended from Twitter head to rival app

Included in the list is pornography, swearing, obscene user names, and spamming photos of faecal matter

(Credit: Parler)

The CEO of Parler, an alternative Twitter app that has gained popularity with right-wing politicians and users, has given some strange instructions to the users on its site.

In a post, John Matze said that users had been banned for violating Parler’s rules. These include a number of bizarre requests such as asking users not to post pictures of “fecal [sic] matter” in the comments of someone they disagree with, and requesting users do not to use obscene names.

Matze also asks that people do not post pornography – which is banned on the social media site – or to constantly spam “F*** you” in Parler’s comments section, which the CEO describes as “unrelated comments”.

“It’s stupid. It’s pointless, Grow up,” Matze said, adding that users also “cannot threaten to kill anyone in the comment section. Sorry, never ever going to be okay.”

“If ever in doubt, ask yourself if you would say it on the streets of New York or national television.”

Parler’s guidance for content that would or would not be allowed on its platform advises users to “not use language/visuals which is sexual in nature”.

This is because pornography is considered indecent according to clauses defined by the FCC, which Parler uses to define its terms of service.

These are far more lenient than other social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, however these platforms do make exceptions in certain cases.

Twitter's rules state that it allows adult content in tweets that are “marked as containing sensitive media”.

However, users may not use pornographic content in live video, profile, or header images.

Facebook, meanwhile, infamously u-turned over its decision to censor an iconic image of a child victim of the Vietnam War, which was removed over the company’s nudity guidelines.

Parler also has a rule that states the company can bill users for lawsuits that arise from posts on their platform, which has been described as a “reverse 230 clause”.

Section 230 is a piece of American legislation that protects the free speech of companies by defending them from responsibility over what their users post.

This applies to all companies, from Facebook to personal websites. Donald Trump is attempting to change the legislation due to his feud with Twitter.

Parler recently gained notoriety in the UK and US as prominent politicians joined it, following Mr Trump’s statements against Twitter and far-right British commentator Katie Hopkins being permanently suspended from Twitter.

Conservative MPs including the MP for Mansfield Ben Bradley, MP for Guildford Angela Richardson, and MP for Wycombe Steve Baker.

Upon signing up to the website, Parler recommended trends that were popular “right now” included #trumptweetsmatter, #kukluxklan, #georgesoros and #covidiots.