Apple removes ICE-tracking apps after US gov request

Apple has removed several ICE-tracking apps, including ICEBlock, from its App Store following contact from the Trump administration, as per an official statement by the tech giant.

The app alerts users to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in their area, which the Justice Department says could increase the risk of assault on US agents.

Alphabet's Google also removed similar apps on Thursday for policy violations, but the company said it was not approached by the Justice Department before taking the action.

ICE has been a central part of Trump's hardline immigration agenda. Its agents have regularly raided and arrested migrants, and rights advocates say free speech and due process are often being infringed upon in the government's deportation drive.

"Based on information we've received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store," Apple said in an emailed statement.

Fox Business first reported the app's removal by Apple on Thursday. The Justice Department later confirmed that it had contacted Apple to pull the app and that the company complied. Google said its policies prohibit apps with a high risk of abuse. ICEBlock was never available on Google's Play Store.

"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," US Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. Joshua Aaron, the Texas-based creator of ICEBlock, disputed that characterisation and criticised Apple's decision.

"I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move," Aaron told Reuters. Now even launching a website would likely be met with takedowns, he said, adding that his legal team will decide on the next steps.

In cities such as Washington, residents also rely on encrypted chats to share enforcement updates, though how often apps like ICEBlock actually alerted neighbors remains unclear.

Six legal experts have told Reuters that surveillance of ICE is largely protected under the US Constitution - as long as the activists don't interfere with that work. Courts have long held that recording law enforcement activities in public areas is legal.

Apple removed more than 1,700 apps from its App Store in 2024 in response to government demands, but the vast majority - more than 1,300 - came from China, followed by Russia with 171 and South Korea with 79. Over the last three years, the United States has not appeared as one of the countries where apps were removed due to government demands, according to company application transparency reports. Apple removes thousands of apps from its App Store every year, including more than 82,500 in 2024, for other reasons, such as design-related issues, fraud or intellectual property infringement.