Apple Removes ICEBlock App Amid Pressure Over Objectionable Content

New York, Oct 3 (AP) Apple has removed an app called ICEBlock from its App Store, which used crowdsourcing to pinpoint sightings of U.S. immigration officers, reportedly due to pressure from U.S. authorities.

ICEBlock was a free app available exclusively for the iPhone, allowing users to anonymously report and track activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The app was no longer accessible on Apple's App Store as of Friday.

The app's developer announced on social media, "We just received a message from Apple's App Review that #ICEBlock has been removed from the App Store due to 'objectionable content.' The only thing we can imagine is that this is due to pressure from the Trump administration. We have responded, and we'll fight this!" After having claimed over a million users last month, those who had already downloaded ICEBlock can still utilize it. Apple has yet to respond to requests for comment.

In a statement to various media outlets, Apple said, “We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps. 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.” There has been a spike in downloads for such apps as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration enforcement through surprise raids, despite the technology facing opposition from authorities for targeting ICE agents.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi addressed the issue on Fox News in July, noting that crowdsourced applications enabling the public to communicate about law enforcement locations, such as ICEBlock by developer Joshua Aaron, are unacceptable. “We are looking at him and he better watch out because that's not protected speech,” Bondi remarked at the time.

However, various other apps that track law enforcement, such as Waze and Google Maps, remain available to users. Besides navigation, these apps alert drivers about potential speed trap locations. Authorities reported last month that a gunman who attacked an ICE facility in Dallas had searched for applications tracking ICE agents' whereabouts. (AP) SKS SKS

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