Apple pulls ICEBlock from App Store after pressure from Bondi

[Qutzupalotl]

ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App: ‘We Are Determined to Fight This’

The developer of ICEBlock, an app that lets people crowdsource sightings of ICE officials, has said he is determined to fight back after Apple removed the app from its App Store on Thursday. The removal came after pressure from Department of Justice officials acting at the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to Fox which first reported the removal. Apple told 404 Media it has removed other similar apps too.

“I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move,” Joshua Aaron told 404 Media. “ICEBlock is no different from crowd sourcing speed traps, which every notable mapping application, including Apple's own Maps app, implements as part of its core services. This is protected speech under the first amendment of the United States Constitution.”

https://www.404media.co/iceblock-owner-after-apple-removes-app-we-are-determined-to-fight-this/

[Initech]

1. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Fuck you Bondi! Fuck ICE and fuck Tom Homan!

[SSJVegeta]

2. Cancel apple tv

[Cha]

3. Shit. of course they did.

[ImNotGod]

4. Apple gave trump a $1.2 mil gold statue but gives US golden showers, I have never bought an Apple product in my life. nt

[GoodRaisin]

5. Tim Apple has been very disappointing.

Fuck Tim Apple. He is a fucking coward.

[Figarosmom]

6. Does he have an app for other non Apple

Use? Like on Astroids?

[mwooldri]

7. So what's needed is a web app...

... One that works in a browser, not in an app store.

Though Android could be unaffected from this as they do have alternative app stores other than Google Play and apps can be side loaded.

[SunSeeker]

9. I just checked, ICEBlock is not on Google Play Store either.

Would a web app that circumvents app stores have the same functionality? Like phone alerts based on proximity of user to ICE spotted location, etc?

[KatyaR]

10. ICEBlock was an Apple app.

There was an Android app, Red Dot, that did basically the same thing. It's gone from Google Play as well.

I think before these apps were developed, people were using the GPS app, Waze, for reporting.

[SunSeeker]

11. Waze only allows you to say police, not ICE specifically, but better than nothing. nt

[SunSeeker]

8. Fuck Apple. Hope these guys take this to court. Sue the shit out of Bondi!