Both Google and Apple recently removed Red Dot, an app people can use to report sightings of ICE officials, from their respective app stores, 404 Media has found. The move comes after Apple removed ICEBlock, a much more prominent app, from its App Store on Thursday following direct pressure from U.S. Department of Justice officials. Google told 404 Media it removed apps because they shared the location of what it describes as a vulnerable group that recently faced a violent act connected to these sorts of ICE-spotting apps—a veiled reference to ICE officials.
The move signals a broader crackdown on apps that are designed to keep communities safe by crowdsourcing the location of ICE officials. Authorities have claimed that Joshua Jahn, the suspected shooter of an ICE facility in September and who killed a detainee, searched his phone for various tracking apps. A long-running immigration support group on the ground
... show moreBoth Google and Apple recently removed Red Dot, an app people can use to report sightings of ICE officials, from their respective app stores, 404 Media has found. The move comes after Apple removed ICEBlock, a much more prominent app, from its App Store on Thursday following direct pressure from U.S. Department of Justice officials. Google told 404 Media it removed apps because they shared the location of what it describes as a vulnerable group that recently faced a violent act connected to these sorts of ICE-spotting apps—a veiled reference to ICE officials.
The move signals a broader crackdown on apps that are designed to keep communities safe by crowdsourcing the location of ICE officials. Authorities have claimed that Joshua Jahn, the suspected shooter of an ICE facility in September and who killed a detainee, searched his phone for various tracking apps. A long-running immigration support group on the ground in Chicago, where ICE is currently focused, told 404 Media some of its members use Red Dot.
💡
Do you know anything else about these apps and their removal? Do you work at Google, Apple, or ICE? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at joseph.404 or send me an email at joseph@404media.co.
This post is for subscribers only
Become a member to get access to all content
Subscribe now
The move comes as Apple removed ICEBlock after direct pressure from U.S. Department of Justice officials and signals a broader crackdown on ICE-spotting apps.
Joseph Cox (404 Media)
𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶 "not yet begun to fight"
in reply to 404 Media • • •yeah so "vulnerable" with their court approved legal immunity, anonymity, full approval from all branches of government up to and including the president of the United States and all branches of the United States military, military riot gear, automatic rifles, sniper's nests, tanks, drones, missiles, chemical weapons, grenades, and goddamn nukes.
Soooooo "vulnerable".
𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶 "not yet begun to fight" reshared this.
𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶 "not yet begun to fight"
in reply to 𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶 "not yet begun to fight" • • •Becca 🌳🚀🛀
in reply to 𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶 "not yet begun to fight" • • •@feed
𝐿𝒶𝓃𝒶 "not yet begun to fight"
in reply to Becca 🌳🚀🛀 • • •