Apple Removes Iceblock From The App Store After Trump Administration's Demand

Apple has removed ICEBlock, nan app which allowed users to put a pin connected a representation to show wherever ICE agents person precocious been spotted, from nan App Store. It has besides pulled different apps that served a akin purpose. According to Fox Business, Attorney General Pam Bondi demanded their takedown, telling Apple that nan apps were "designed to put ICE agents astatine consequence conscionable for doing their jobs." Bondi added that "violence against rule enforcement is an intolerable reddish statement that cannot beryllium crossed." She besides said that nan "Department of Justice will proceed making each effort to protect [its] brave national rule enforcement officers, who consequence their lives each time to support Americans safe."

"We created nan App Store to beryllium a safe and trusted spot to observe apps," Apple told nan publication successful a statement. "Based connected accusation we've received from rule enforcement astir nan information risks associated pinch ICEBlock, we person removed it and akin apps from nan App Store."

Bondi demanded nan apps' removal aft nan FBI and nan management reported that nan gunman who attacked an ICE installation successful Dallas utilized search apps, including ICEBlock, to unfastened occurrence from a rooftop. The gunman killed 2 immigrants and injured a third, but he was allegedly targeting ICE agents. Joshua Aaron, nan app's developer, told Fox Business that he was "incredibly disappointed" by Apple's actions. "Capitulating to an authoritarian authorities is ne'er nan correct move," he said. "Apple has claimed they received accusation from rule enforcement that ICEBlock served to harm rule enforcement officers. This is patently false." Aaron added: "We are wished to conflict this pinch everything we have. Our ngo has ever been to protect our neighbors from nan panic this management continues to reign down connected nan group of this nation."

ICEBlock climbed to nan top of nan App Store charts successful July aft management officials slammed it, making much group alert of its existence. At nan time, officials warned Aaron that they were "looking astatine him, and he amended watch out" because nan app threatens nan lives of rule enforcement agents. NBC News reports that it was downloaded much than 1 cardinal times since it was introduced. Tom Homan, nan administration's "border czar," precocious told Fox News that nan authorities will analyse nan "people who put these apps up" because they put "law enforcement astatine awesome risk."