Apple Removes Facebook Security App from App Store

In a sign of infighting between Silicon Valley Masters of the Universe, Apple barred Facebook’s Onavo security app from the App Store after it failed to meet Apple’s privacy standards by collecting user data.

Facebook reportedly removed the Onavo VPN app voluntarily last Thursday after Apple informed the company that it failed to meet their privacy standards.

“We work hard to protect user privacy and data security throughout the Apple ecosystem,” declared an Apple spokesman to CNBC. “With the latest update to our guidelines, we made it explicitly clear that apps should not collect information about which other apps are installed on a user’s device for the purposes of analytics or advertising/marketing and must make it clear what user data will be collected and how it will be used.”

In their own statement, Facebook denied any wrongdoing, and claimed the social network has “always been clear when people download Onavo about the information that is collected and how it is used.”

“As a developer on Apple’s platform we follow the rules they’ve put in place,” Facebook continued.

Twitter alternative Gab has repeatedly been banned from the Apple App Store, along with a satirical game about Hillary Clinton, and a pro-Trump game about building a border wall.

Encrypted messaging app Telegram was also temporarily banned from the App Store this year, while the New York Times reported last year that Uber was nearly kicked off the app store for breaking privacy rules.