Facebook didn't remove blue tick from Apple’s page, says it wasn't verified at first place

However, other pages like Apple TV, Apple Store and Apple Music still show the verified tick.

Apple logo. (Reuters)

Facebook and Apple have been at war with each other over the app permission issue and how it my hamper the business of the social media giant. Mark Zuckerberg's company is doing all it can to influence millions that what Apple is doing will kill the business of many. It recently got a full page advertisement claiming the same. And recently it was reported that, to show its hatred towards the iPhone maker, Facebook unverified the company's page on its website.

This was first noticed by popular social media consultant, Matt Navarra. 'Facebook has removed Apple's blue tick Page verification,' he wrote. 

However, he was quick to mention that Apple's page was never verified. As per Facebook, the page was never verified since the admins never initiated the verification process.

UPDATE
Facebook's response:

- Apple's FB page was *never* verified

- Other related FB Pages belonging to Apple are verified incl Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV

- Reason why Apple's FB Page is not verified: “The admins of a page need to initiate the verification process” https://t.co/tScKfD8Dkg

— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) December 23, 2020

It is worth adding that other pages like Apple TV, Apple Store and Apple Music show the verified tick. The company's main page too has a verified tick on Instagram, a platform owned by Facebook. 

The privacy war between the two erupted a week ago. The main topic of discussion are the changes Apple made in iOS 14.4 for iPhones. The OS version is supposed to go live next year and would require iPhone users to give permission so that apps can track them for advertising purposes.

Facebook, for now, tracks users between apps. As per them, it helps them connect small businesses to customers and show personalised ads. Apple introducing granular permission would hamper this as Facebook thinks most users will deny the permission to track them between apps.

Tim Cook, Apple's CEO also tweeted 'We believe users should have the choice over the data that is being collected about them and how it's used. Facebook can continue to track users across apps and websites as before, App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 will just require that they ask for your permission first.'

We believe users should have the choice over the data that is being collected about them and how it's used. Facebook can continue to track users across apps and websites as before, App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 will just require that they ask for your permission first. pic.twitter.com/UnnAONZ61I

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 17, 2020

However, Cook did not mention about Apple's own personalised ad platform, which won't require to take permission from users. 'Apple is behaving anti-competitively by using their control of the App Store to benefit their bottom line at the expense of creators and small businesses. Full stop,' Facebook Vice President for Ads and Business Products Dan Levy said recently.