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ICEBlock, which was free to download, used crowdsourced data to help users monitor ICE activities in real time
In this photo illustration, the ICEBlock app is displayed on an Apple iPhone. (AFP photo)
Apple has removed ICEBlock, an iPhone-only app that let users to anonymously report and track sightings of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, following pressure from the Trump administration.
ICEBlock, which was free to download, used crowdsourced data to help users monitor ICE activities in real time. However, as of Friday, the app was no longer available on Apple’s App Store.
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The developer of ICEBlock announced the removal on social media, stating, “We just received a message from Apple’s App Review that #ICEBlock has been removed from the App Store due to ‘objectionable content’. The only thing we can imagine is this is due to pressure from the Trump Admin. We have responded and we’ll fight this!”
We just received a message from Apple’s App Review that #ICEBlock has been removed from the App Store due to “objectionable content”. The only thing we can imagine is this is due to pressure from the Trump Admin.
We have responded and we’ll fight this! #resist
— ICEBlock Official (@iceblock.app) 3 October 2025 at 03:57
Despite the app’s removal, those who had already downloaded ICEBlock should still be able to use it. The developer also revealed that the app had gained over one million users before being pulled.
Apple declined to comment directly but issued a statement to other media outlets: “We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted place to discover apps,” the company said in a statement to other media outlets. “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.”
The rise in downloads of apps like ICEBlock coincides with an increase in immigration enforcement raids by the Trump administration. These apps have sparked controversy, with officials arguing that they compromise the safety of law enforcement officers.
In July, US Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke on Fox News about the developer of ICEBlock, warning that apps enabling users to share the location of law enforcement officers were not protected speech.
However, other widely used apps such as Waze and Google Maps, which provide navigation and notify users of police speed traps, remain available.
Concerns over apps like ICEBlock grew after a gunman who opened fire on an ICE facility in Dallas was reported to have searched for apps tracking ICE agents before the attack.
(With inputs from AP)
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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October 03, 2025, 18:45 IST
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