Apple and Google have taken action to remove apps that allow users to anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, following mounting pressure from federal officials and safety concerns. The removals center on ICEBlock, a free app that gained rapid popularity earlier this year by letting users log and view real-time locations of ICE and other law enforcement personnel.
Apple’s decision followed direct pressure from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who argued that the app endangered officers. The company cited information from law enforcement indicating that the app posed significant risks to agent safety. Google, which never carried ICEBlock itself, followed Apple’s lead by pulling similar apps from its Play Store for policy violations.
The move comes in the wake of a deadly attack on an ICE facility in Dallas. Investigators said the gunman, who killed two detained immigrants and wounded another before taking his own life, had recently searched for ICE-tracking apps, including ICEBlock.
ICEBlock surged to the top of Apple’s social networking chart in July, a day after the White House publicly condemned it. The app has surpassed one million downloads, according to tracking data.
Its removal has prompted strong backlash from its creator, Joshua Aaron, who has asked Apple to reverse the ban. He argues the app underwent a rigorous review process at launch and has not changed since. Aaron is consulting legal counsel and formally appealed Apple’s decision on Thursday.
The Trump administration has framed the issue as one of law-enforcement protection, pointing to rising assaults on federal officers. Critics, however, have likened ICEBlock to navigation apps like Waze, which allow users to share law-enforcement locations to avoid speeding tickets.
Source: CNBC