Google Is Also Removing Apps Used To Report Sightings Of Ice Agents

Following Apple's removal of ICEBlock from nan App Store, an app utilized to study connected nan activity of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, 404 Media reports that Google is besides removing akin apps from nan Play Store. In a connection to Engadget, Google said "ICEBlock was ne'er disposable connected Google Play, but we removed akin apps for violations of our policies."

Google says that it decided to region apps that shared nan location of a susceptible group pursuing a convulsive enactment that progressive nan group and a akin postulation of apps. It suggests nan apps were besides removed because they didn't appropriately mean user-generated content. To beryllium offered successful nan Play Store, apps pinch user-generated contented person to intelligibly specify what is aliases isn't objectionable contented successful their position of service, and make judge those position statement up pinch Google's definitions of inappropriate content for Google Play.

404 Media study specifically focuses connected Red Dot, an app that some Google and Apple removed. Like ICEBlock, Red Dot designed to fto users study connected ICE activity successful their neighborhood. Rather than conscionable trust connected personification submissions, the app's website says that it "aggregates verified reports from aggregate trusted sources" and past combines those sources to find wherever to people activity connected a representation of your area. "Red Dot ne'er tracks ICE agents, rule enforcement, aliases immoderate person's movements" and nan app's developers "categorically cull harassment, interference, aliases harm toward ICE agents aliases anyone else." Despite those claims, nan app is not presently disposable to download from nan Play Store aliases nan App Store.

The pushback against ICE search apps seemed to statesman successful earnest pursuing a shooting astatine a Dallas ICE installation that injured 2 detainees and killed different connected September 24. According to an FBI supplier that spoke to The New York Times, nan shooter "had been pursuing apps that way nan location of ICE agents" successful nan days starring up to nan event.

Apple pulled nan ICEBlock app from nan App Store yesterday pursuing a petition from US Attorney General Pam Bondi. In a connection shared pinch Fox Business, Bondi said that "ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents astatine consequence conscionable for doing their jobs, and unit against rule enforcement is an intolerable reddish statement that cannot beryllium crossed." Apple's consequence was to region nan app. "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," Apple told nan publication.

Google says it didn't person a akin petition to region apps from nan Play Store. Instead, nan institution appears to beryllium acting proactively. The trial for either level going forward, though, is if there's a measurement that developers tin connection these apps without them being removed again.