Some traces of Peeple, an as-yet-unreleased app that claimed it would let users rate human beings, have disappeared from the Internet after intense backlash.
A visit to Peeple's website brought up a "Not Found" message on Tuesday morning before it was restored with the words "Join the positive revolution #oct12" in the early afternoon. Both its Facebook and Twitter pages were still offline.
News of Peeple spread across the Web last week, garnering strong reactions from social media users and celebrities like comedian John Oliver, who lampooned the app Sunday night on his HBO show "Last Week Tonight."
In response to the criticism, Peeple CEO Julia Cordray posted a message Sunday on LinkedIn stating that the app would be released in November as planned, although Peeple's updated website hinted that people could join the service starting in October.
"Peeple will not be a tool to tell other humans how horrible they are. Actually, it’s the exact opposite," Cordray wrote. "Peeple is a POSITIVE ONLY APP. We want to bring positivity and kindness to the world."
Cordray did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News on Tuesday. On LinkedIn, she said the app was changing some of its most controversial features.
Now it will be "a 100% OPT-IN system," she wrote, meaning that people can't be rated unless they sign up for the app. It will also not let any negative reviews appear on somebody's profile unless they are approved by that person.
Speaking to the Washington Post, Cordray said, "We will not be shamed into submission."
