Back in October, Apple removed an app called ICEBlock from the App Store. The app, which had a tag line of "See something, tap something," was created to allow users to anonymously report the location of ICE agents so that individuals concerned about being apprehended by the agency could have a heads up and leave the area. The Trump administration was concerned that this information could put the lives of agents at risk.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said that apps tracking CE whereabouts endanger agents' lives
Attorney General Pam Bondi explained two months ago that the Trump Administration got in touch with Apple, asking the tech giant to remove ICEBlock from the App Store, which it did. The AG told 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. 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."
Looking for more information about how Apple and Google are handling apps like ICEBlock from appearing in the App Store and Play Store respectively, the House Committee on Homeland Security sent letters to the CEOs of Apple (Tim Cook) and Google (Sundar Pichai). Reuters was able to get a look at the letters and in them the lawmakers point out that such apps are "jeopardizing the safety of [Department of Homeland Security] personnel."
Why the first amendment doesn't protect developers of ICE-tracking apps
The letters requested that Apple and Google make sure that ICE-tracking apps cannot be used to target ICE agents or block lawful enforcement of immigration laws. Users of apps like ICEBlock felt that the Constitution gave them the right to use such apps and that removing these apps from the App Store violated their freedom of speech rights. The lawmakers responded with a key passage in the letter that was based on a precedent setting Supreme Court ruling. that freedom of speech protection does not include speech that "incites imminent legal action."
Have you ever used an ICE tracking app?
Yes. I wanted to know where ICE was operating.
0%
No. Just let the agents do their job.
100%
As we told you, Apple removed ICEBlock in October along with other ICE-tracking apps. But as it turned out, Google did not have the same app listed in the Play Store although it did say that similar apps were removed for policy violations. Lawmakers are requesting a briefing by December 12th. Apple and Google were requested to make a comment by Reuters but neither tech firm has responded.
The ICEbreaker app is still available in the Google Play Store. | Image credit-PhoneArena
The person who created ICEBlock was Joshua Aaron and he had previously told CNN that he created the app to "fight back" against ICE raids. While ICE has been able to arrest a large number of illegal immigrants, some Americans are not happy that U.S. born citizens, living in the U.S. legally, have been caught in ICE's enforcement actions. Others have criticized ICE agents for covering their faces with masks, and for refusing to identify themselves with their name and badge number when asked to do so.
ICE agents are under no obligation to show their faces or give you their names and badge numbers
However, it is time to make something perfectly clear; despite what you might see on the viral videos recorded by those tracking ICE agents, there is absolutely no federal law requiring these agents to state their name and badge numbers. While making an arrest, they do have to state that they are law enforcement. And here's another piece of information that many should learn. Nothing prohibits ICE agents from wearing masks or covering their faces while doing their jobs.
A quick look at the Google Play Store reveals that there are still some ICE-trackers available for Android users. One, called ICEbreaker: ICE Maps & Alerts, showed locations in Southern California where ICE was spotted lurking although I should point out that these sightings appear to be 9 to 10 hours old. Some CE tracking apps still appear in the App Store including one called Ice Report.
Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.
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