Washington, Oct 4 (V7N) – Apple Inc. and Alphabet’s Google have removed ICEBlock and other similar apps from their platforms after being approached, in Apple’s case, by the U.S. federal government. Apple confirmed the removals on Thursday, stating that law enforcement had raised concerns about the safety risks posed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Google removed similar apps for policy violations but said it was not contacted by the Justice Department prior to the action.
 
ICEBlock, designed to alert users when ICE agents are in the area, has been criticized by the Justice Department for potentially increasing risks of assault on federal officers. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs, and violence against law enforcement is an intolerable red line that cannot be crossed.”
 
Apple stated in an email, “Based on information we've received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store.” Fox Business first reported the app’s removal, which was later confirmed by the Justice Department. Google clarified that ICEBlock was never available on its Play Store.
 
Joshua Aaron, the Texas-based creator of ICEBlock, criticized Apple’s decision, calling it capitulation to an authoritarian regime and saying his legal team will decide on next steps. Bondi has previously warned that Aaron is “not protected” under the Constitution and could face prosecution.
 
Civilian surveillance of federal immigration agents has increased since the Trump administration took office, with activists claiming it is meant to protect communities from aggressive ICE enforcement. Legal experts have noted that recording law enforcement activities in public is largely protected under the U.S. Constitution, provided it does not obstruct officers.
 
Apple has previously removed over 1,700 apps in 2024 following government requests, with most originating from China, Russia, and South Korea. The U.S. rarely required app removals for government reasons, making the ICEBlock case notable. Apple, sensitive to U.S.-China trade policies due to the majority of iPhones being manufactured in China, faces scrutiny as tech firms navigate government pressures while avoiding conflicts with the White House.
 
News Source: Reuters....
 
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