Apple and its devices are known for their security and privacy. This is the something that makes everyone a fan of Apple products. From time to time Apple has been updating its policies towards privacy of its customers. Yesterday, Apple removed an app from its app store that was used to stalk people on Instagram. This step was taken after Instagram sent a cease and desist letter to the developer of the app. The name of the app is Like Petrol.
Like Petrol was launched for iOS in July. The app offered a service that lets paying subscribers get notifications anytime someone they followed commented on or liked a photo. Like app targeted people in relationships, saying they could use the app to keep tabs on whoever their partners were communicating with on Instagram. The app charged upto $80 a year for its service. Security experts have not classified the as Stalkware because it does not keep track of private information like location data, call logs, text messages and contacts, but they said it was encouraging stalking behavior because the app was monitoring user’s activity on social media.
Founder of the app Sergio Luis Quintero told CNET in a mail that the company will fight to get back on the play store. He said “We strongly believe that our app does not violate Apple policies, we plan to appeal this decision in the coming days. If our app’s functionality did violate any policies, then Instagram would have violated the exact same policies from 2011 to 2019 with the Following tab. Why weren’t they taken down?”
Instagram is making changes in its privacy for the past few months. They removed the Following tab in early October and now they are working on hiding the likes count in some countries. The Following tab showed users what people from their following list are liking, commenting, and who they are following.