At Apple S Request Facebook Is Removing Its Spyware Like Onavo Vpn App From The App Store

Update: In a statement to TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino, Apple says it is committed to protecting user privacy:

Facebook is removing its controversial and spyware-like Onavo Protect application from the App Store. The Wall Street Journal reports today that Apple has ruled the app as being in violation of its data-collection policies.

The report explains that apple informed Facebook earlier this month that Onavo Protect violated new App Store Guidelines. Following that communication, Apple and Facebook officials met several times last week, with at least one of those meetings taking place at Apple Park, sources said.

Ultimately, Apple reportedly suggested to Facebook that it “voluntarily” remove the Onavo Protect app from the App Store, to which Facebook agreed:

Apple introduced new privacy rules as part of its App Store Guidelines back in June that specifically aim to limit collection of data by app developers. It’s these changes in guidelines that seemingly gave Apple grounds to push Onavo Protect off the App Store.

While Facebook touted Onavo Protect as a way for users to keep themselves and their data safe, what it actually did was create a VPN that directed user traffic through a Facebook-managed server:

Facebook currently plans to remove the app from the App Store at some point this evening. While users who have already downloaded it will continue to be able to use it, Facebook won’t be able to push updates to the app. Facebook currently has no plans to remove Onavo from the Google Play Store.