Why did apple remove Parler?

Apple did explain it in other sources (as did Google), and Amazon said reviewed a long list of posts that explicitly called for violent responses or were clearly used for organizing violent responses such as the one on January 6. Parler refused to remove these. Other platforms, when similar posts were reported, did remove them. It has nothing to do with political views, it was all about posts calling for and coordinating violence against public officials. I doubt that anyone involved will actually publish the inappropriate posts for what should be obvious reasons.

If it was just Apple/Google/Amazon/Microsoft and others trying to block political views why didn’t they take action 2 years ago? Why did Amazon agree to host Parler in the first place?

Other platforms were used also, however, they took action against dangerous posts. Short of banning all social media there’s no way to completely prevent such posts.

Apple did say that was the reason, as did Google, and Amazon was very explicit about it. Google took immediate action; Apple gave Parler 24 hours to remove specific posts and Parler refused.

However, Apple’s and Google’s actions had very little practical affect. It prevented people who didn’t already have Parler from getting the app, but anyone who had it could continue using it. And anyone, either with or without the app, could still use the Parler website from their phone or any other device. All until Amazon pulled the plug, of course.

A minor correction, it wasn't a press release from Apple, it was statement mailed to Parler, as reported in The Verge. As I have mentioned several times here, Apple doesn't discuss policy decisions in general unless it is part of an official news release on Newsroom Archive - Apple, and not at all on this forum.

This link includes Apple’s statement: https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/9/22221730/apple-removes-suspends-bans-parler-app-store.

The tech giants removing Parler was on the news several times and on all major web sites. You'll have to ask Google and Amazon, or do a web search yourself which is all we can do, for statements from Google and Amazon. As for Apple's statement, as quoted from The Verge, 'Parler will not return to the App Store until it has “demonstrated your ability to effectively moderate and filter the dangerous and harmful content on your service.”' They apparently did not demonstrate to Apple's estimation an ability to effectively moderate content so the app was removed from the App Store.

If you are referring to the terms of use for this web site for which I provided a link, if Apple decides a post on this forum is inappropriate it will remove it, or possibly if the entire things turning into a policy discussion they will remove the entire topic. I should add this topic is now dangerously heading that direction.

To answer your question, I have not seen anything I can find on Apple's news releases page but I have seen various newspaper websites (enough and on reliable newspapers to convince me they were't making anything up) quote a "press release made by Apple" a few days ago as to why. You can probably find them with a web search.

Which "their"? The statement quote by The Verge from Apple is the one I remember seeing.

Remember, these are all corporations. As such they get to determine which products and services they wish to support. For example you will see on Terms of Use for this web site we aren't supposed to discuss matters of policy . If the moderators lose patience with this discussion drifting from the purely technical aspect of where Apple might post press releases, this entire conversation could disappear (as many other have for the product you are discussing) because a discussion of Apple's policies on their website is not something they wish to support.

I found quite a few articles in a simple web search. I’m sure you will be able to also.