Apple removes ICEBlock app after pressure by Trump administration | The Express Tribune
Key Takeaways
- Apple removed the ICE-tracking app ICEBlock and similar apps from the App Store.
- The removal followed contact from the Trump administration, specifically citing safety risks.
- The Justice Department claimed the app increases the risk of assault on ICE agents.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi strongly condemned the app for endangering law enforcement.
- The creator of ICEBlock had previously been warned by officials about potential prosecution.
Apple confirmed on Thursday that it had removed the popular ICE-tracking application ICEBlock, along with similar apps, from the App Store after the Trump administration reached out. The Justice Department asserted that the app, which notifies users of the location of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, poses a safety risk by potentially increasing the risk of assault on federal law enforcement. Apple issued a statement confirming the removal was based on safety information received from law enforcement. US Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized that the app puts ICE agents at risk, crossing an intolerable line regarding violence against law enforcement. The creator of ICEBlock had previously been warned by officials that they might not be constitutionally protected. This development may also prompt increased scrutiny of the relationship between tech companies and the Trump administration.
