Complying With ‘Demand’ From Trump Administration, Apple Removes ICEBlock From App Store
Ashley Oliver, reporting for Fox Business:
DOJ officials, at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi, asked Apple to take down ICEBlock, a move that comes as Trump administration officials have claimed the tool, which allows users to anonymously report ICE agents’ presence, puts agents in danger and helps shield illegal immigrants.
“We reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app from their App Store — and Apple did so,” Bondi said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“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,” Bondi added. “This Department of Justice will continue making every effort to protect our brave federal law enforcement officers, who risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe.”
ICEBlock developer Joshua Aaron, posting on the ICEBlock Bluesky account:
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 this is due to pressure from the Trump Admin.
We have responded and we’ll fight this! #resist
ICEBlock was featured on Product Hunt three months ago.
Replies
Cal ID
This raises tough questions about where tech companies draw the line.
And, why is crowdsourcing ICE locations different? Feels like we're entering some murky territory when government pressure can dictate what apps exist. Regardless of politics, that precedent is concerning.
Why such apps should be going to the appstore in the first place?
Triforce Todos
When an app is banned for political reasons, it sets a dangerous precedent for free expression.