The creator of ICEBlock doesn’t see anything sinister about the app's use.
An app that informs users of nearby Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity is now at the top of App Store charts after the US government criticized it, stating that it could pose a risk to agents.
ICEBlock, an application that was launched in April, drew the attention of the White House when its press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, and the ICE acting director, Todd M. Lyons, expressed concerns about ICE agents facing an increased number of assaults.
The app’s developer, Joshua Aaron, reacted to these claims, referring to it as a “scare tactic” and explaining that the application was created to serve immigrants who are scared of deportation, reports NBC News.
The free-of-cost app allows users to report ICE encounters anonymously within a 5-mile radius. The app now has more than 20,000 users.
More frequent raids by authorities seem to boost the rise of apps and sites designed to counteract them. For example, a website called FuckLAPD.com is dedicated to identifying police officers who participate in raids but cover their identities.
The way ICEBlock works is that it allows users to ping ICE sightings on the map, as well as add details that include what the officer was wearing or what kind of vehicle they drove.
While Aaron stated that the app's main goal is to inform users of ICE's presence and not interfere with law enforcement’s work, the government sees it differently.
This situation escalated further after CNN wrote an article about the app. President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called out the news outlet for publicising it and even shared plans to take legal action against CNN.
However, the strong government stance has seemingly backfired, making even more people curious about ICEBlock. It is now the most downloaded app, surpassing applications such as Instagram and X.
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