Apple reactivates certificate for internal apps Google and Facebook

Apple has reactivated the certificate for testing internal apps by Google and Facebook. Both companies used the certificate for apps with which it conducted market research among consumers, which is against the rules according to Apple.

Facebook hasn’t been able to test apps for a little over a day, while it went with Google in a few hours. Apple has allowed the certificates again after it supposedly spoke with both companies about using the certificate to conduct market research. With the certificate, Facebook and Google allowed iOS users to install apps to monitor their usage in exchange for rewards, such as money. The certificate is for internal company apps and for testing apps before they appear in the App Store.

In an internal memo citing Business Insider, Facebook does not say it has broken the rules. The company does dispute that it is a ‘spy app’ and in addition, the social network says that Apple has power over what happens on iOS. “We’ve been working with Apple to address issues and now our internal apps are back online. Our relationship with Apple is very important. Many of us use Apple products at work every day and we rely on iOS for many of our internal apps for employees, so we would never knowingly jeopardize that relationship,” the company said. Google has not provided a statement.

Google used a VPN app to track what users were doing on devices as part of its Opinion Rewards program. That’s pretty much the same thing Facebook did, including through a VPN app. The tests helped both companies provide insights into iOS device usage, data that neither company has access to by default. Users had to consciously install and trust the apps and were paid a fee for monitoring their smartphone usage. The VPN apps would not pass Apple’s App Store approval, because they observe smartphone users and forward that data. There is no such inspection with an Enterprise Certificate.