"It began in October when Apple first removed an app called ICEBlock, which allows users to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in their area. Attorney General Pam Bondi took credit for the takedown, telling reporters, "We reached out to Apple today demanding they remove the ICEBlock app from their App Store-and Apple did so." The Attorney General's office claimed the apps presented "safety risks" for ICE agents."
"In the days that followed, Apple removed several other similar apps, explaining that they could potentially be used to target law enforcement officials. The company says the apps violate section 1.1.1 of its app store guidelines, which prohibits "[d]efamatory, discriminatory, or mean-spirited content, including references or commentary about ... targeted groups, particularly if the app is likely to humiliate, intimidate or place a targeted individual or group in harm's way.""
The Electronic Frontier Foundation filed suit to compel the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to release records of communications with Apple and other tech platforms that prompted removal of ICE-tracking apps. Apple removed ICEBlock in October after Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly credited her office for demanding the takedown and cited agent safety risks. Apple later removed similar apps under App Store guideline 1.1.1 against content that could humiliate, intimidate, or place targeted individuals at risk. Meta removed a large Facebook group after government request, and Google removed Red Dot citing policies against sharing locations of vulnerable groups. Bondi vowed continued engagement with tech companies.
Read at Fast Company
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