Facebook withdrew its mobile VPN app called Onavo Protect from the iOS App Store after Apple stated that the app violated the iPhone maker's App Store guidelines on data collection.
Para aquellos que no lo saben, Onavo Protect es una aplicación de red privada virtual (VPN) propiedad de Facebook que fue diseñada principalmente para ayudar a los usuarios a controlar su uso de datos móviles y adquirida por Facebook a partir de una empresa de análisis israelí en 2013.
La llamada La aplicación VPN ha sido fuente de controversia a principios de este año, cuando el gigante de las redes sociales lo ofreció como una aplicación de VPN móvil gratuita, prometió “mantener su seguridad y la de sus datos cuando navega y comparte información en la web”.
However, Onavo Protect became a data collection tool to help the company Facebook track smartphone users' activities across multiple different apps to learn how Facebook users use third-party apps.
Why Apple removed Facebook's free VPN app?
Now, according to a new Wall Street Journal report, Apple informed Facebook earlier this month that Onavo Protect violated its new App Store Guidelines, implemented in June and that prevent developers from creating user databases and selling them to third parties.
A discussion between Apple and Facebook about the app took place last week, y se informó que Apple sugirió a Facebook que eliminara “voluntariamente” Onavo Protect de la App Store, a lo que Facebook accedió.
En un comunicado, Apple says the company is committed to protecting user privacy.
“We work hard to protect user privacy and data security across the Apple ecosystem. With the latest update to our guidelines, we make it clear that apps must not collect information about which other apps are installed on the user's device for analysis or advertising purposes / marketing and must make clear what user data will be collected and how it will be used”.
What data does Facebook collect using Onavo Protect?
While Facebook markets Onavo Protect as a free VPN tool to keep users and their data safe, the app actually creates a VPN that redirects users' internet traffic to a private server managed by Facebook. To get an idea of how Facebook uses Onavo as an extensive data collection tool, you can read its description on the Google Play Store:
“Onavo can collect your mobile data traffic. This helps us improve and operate the Onavo service by analyzing your use of websites, apps, and data. As we are part of Facebook, we also use this information to improve Facebook products and services, get information about the products and services that people value and create better experiences”.
Then, if you think Facebook can track your activities on the Web, but it cannot track what you do in other apps on your smartphone, Wrong, especially when you are using Onavo Protect.
Facebook's free VPN app had already been
downloaded more than 33 millions of times on iOS and Android devices, and is still
active and running on the Play Store, and Facebook has no plans to
remove it until Google finds out that it violates their terms.