"Apple soon complied, sending an email Thursday to the app's creator, Joshua Aaron, that said it would block further downloads of the app because new information "provided to Apple by law enforcement" showed the app broke the app store rules. According to the email, which Aaron shared with The Associated Press, Apple said the app violated the company's policies "because its purpose is to provide location information about law enforcement officers that can be used to harm such officers individually or as a group.""
"U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said such tracking puts Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at risk. But users and developers of the apps say it's their First Amendment right to capture what ICE is doing in their neighborhoods - and maintain that most users turn to these platforms in an effort to protect their own safety as President Donald Trump steps up aggressive immigration enforcement across the country."
Apple and Google blocked downloads of phone apps that flagged sightings of U.S. immigration agents after the Trump administration demanded removal of a popular iPhone app. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said such tracking put Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at risk. Users and developers argued the apps represent a First Amendment right to document ICE activity and that most people use the platforms to protect themselves amid increased immigration enforcement. ICEBlock, the most widely used app in Apple's store, was removed after Apple received law enforcement information saying the app violated policies by providing location data that could harm officers.
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