One day after Apple removed the ICEBlock app from the iOS App Store, Google confirmed that it has also taken down a similar application called Red Dot from the Google Play Store. Both companies acted following concerns over the apps’ potential to endanger the safety of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Reports indicate that Google stated it removed apps that share the location of what it characterized as a vulnerable group after a violent incident related to such apps.
The action taken by Apple occurred after pressure from the Department of Justice, with Attorney General Pam Bondi expressing concerns that ICEBlock could compromise the safety of ICE agents. Bondi was quoted saying that the app “is designed to put ICE agents at risk” while emphasizing that violence against law enforcement is unacceptable. In contrast, Joshua Aaron, the developer of ICEBlock, defended the app as a form of “protected speech” and criticized Apple for yielding to what he described as authoritarian pressure.
Both ICEBlock and Red Dot provide functionalities to anonymously report sightings of ICE agents and to access local reports. The Red Dot app claims to synthesize user-generated reports with information from trusted sources to track ICE activity.
Google clarified that it had not received any advance notice from the Department of Justice regarding the removals. The company asserted its policy to prohibit apps that are at a high risk of abuse and mentioned its specific content moderation guidelines for applications that contain user-generated content. While ICEBlock was never offered on Google Play, the company has removed similar apps due to violations of its policies.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/791533/google-apple-ice-tracking-app-store-red-dot-iceblock