Apple Shut Down All of Facebook's Internal Apps When Revoking Enterprise Certificate [Update: Fixed]

[LordVic]

FaceBook just can't seem to not get in its own way regarding user data and privacy.

But that should be expected from that company. While other data collection companies have made a concious effort to ensure security of your data and not sell it, FaceBook has never shown any issue with turning over vast amounts of personal data if it means money for them.

This is not the way to behave if you want users to trust your data collection. However, I'm not sure anyone of us should be surprised. Since FaceBook's day 1, Zuckerberg has always been wishy washy about security of users data.

IIRC, very early on when questions of private vs public data came up, he stated he doesn't believe in private data and that anyone posting data onto a public website understands that the data is no longer private.

He's always been very questionable regarding the data FaceBook collects.

 

[zephonic]

I don't use the FB apps, but I do rely on Whatsapp for international communication. I wonder if that has been compromised as well? I don't use Instagram, but the same question there.

 

[Alan Wynn]

That's an interesting abuse of power on Apple's part...

Abuse of power? Really? They directly violated their contract, using their Enterprise Certificate to distribute apps to end users. Apple merely enforced the terms of their contract.

I think if I were Facebook, I'd probably retaliate by targeting iOS users. Give them all ads telling them to trade in their iOS devices for Android devices, and throw in $200 or so to sweeten the deal.

Yup, that would go over well. “We targeted children and paid them so we could spy on all their data. Apple caught us and stopped us from doing that. You should leave Apple and move to a platform where we can spy on kids!”

Maybe Facebook can finally get Apple to knock down the wall around their garden.

More likely result is the court acting to fine Facebook for their bad behavior.

Edit: I'm not saying Facebook didn't violate their contract.

Glad you acknowledge the obvious (although Facebook does not, they continue to claim they did nothing wrong).

Just to make sure everyone else is clear on this here is text from the ToS:

“You may not use, distribute, or otherwise make Your Internal Use Applications available to Your Customers.”

I guess that Facebook’s argument is that the users are not Facebook’s customers, but their product.

But Apple shutting down Facebook's legitimate internal apps over this is an extreme over-reaction on Apple's part.

What would you have had them do? Scold them? “Bad Facebook! No cookie.”

The only way to disable these applications was to void their certificate. Facebook can always apply for a new one, and there is a reasonable possibility that one will be granted.

I'd imagine any organization currently with internal apps is currently investigating phasing iOS devices out of their organization. IE, consider that the military has iOS apps they use internally. A rogue actor is at Apple. That rogue actor revokes the military's certificates, and suddenly the military's apps no longer function.

Yup, as that is a very likely scenario.

It'd be as if Microsoft suddenly shut down every copy of Windows running on a company's computers. How could any company be expected to trust Microsoft anymore? The answer is they wouldn't.

This is not at all like that, much as you like your over the top comparisons. Facebook employees can still order food, just using a web page instead of the app. True for other applications as well.[/quote]

 

[cmaier]

I don't use the FB apps, but I do rely on Whatsapp for international communication. I wonder if that has been compromised as well? I don't use Instagram, but the same question there.

Nothing here involves any app that you download from the App Store