ICEBlock App Developer Sues Trump Officials, Claims Apple Was Pressured to Remove App

[IceCool]

I forget, who was running the Federal government in 2020?

He actually got the year wrong since the censorship issue he's referring to happened in 2021-22.

 

[Dark_Omen]

Someone asking Apple to enforce their own guidelines is absolutely problematic if that "someone" is the US government. It's unconstitutional, in fact. And it isn't thin...speaking as a First Amendment attorney, this is easily the strongest case of government "jawboning" I've ever seen.

Also not sure if Apple reorganized the App Store guidelines, but here is 1.1.1:



If this is actually what Apple was citing, it's not remotely clear how it even applies here.

According to your logic, judicial GAG orders are also unconstitutional, but yet, here we are.

People don't have a constitutional right to help people evade arrest.

I wouldn't hire you to be my lawyer.

 

[HylianKnight]

If we are gonna ban ICE block on the premise that providing information about things occurring in public spaces is endangering a group of people, then we should also be banning neighborly, citizen, next door and other similar apps

 

[macfacts]

I’d like to see the actual text of Apple’s rule. Also, I suspect that the developer’s intent is definitely *not* that “law enforcement officers” be harmed by the use of the app.

they aren't law enforcement officers, when did LEO start wearing masks?

 

[Lucky736]

If we are gonna ban ICE block on the premise that providing information about things occurring in public spaces is endangering a group of people, then we should also be banning neighborly, citizen, next door and other similar apps

Endangering illegals? LMAO. Right. Other way around.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Glad to see MR finally reporting on this. The ICEBlock debacle is a perfect example of why alternative app distribution is important.

If LEO are put in genuine danger because of apps like this, Citizen needs to go too.

 

[CarAnalogy]

ICE is in and out in 10-15 minutes. What good is a delayed notification that you don’t even notice until 5 minutes later?

I would be really interested to see data on how many reports in this app resulted in people leaving the area vs people coming to the area to involve themselves in the situation.

Nobody seems to have offered any evidence in either direction.

 

[Art Mark]

Free speech? Aiding and abetting criminal activity at the federal level should be a federal crime. And be rewarded with Federal PMITA prison time.

That's a pretty big jump there Mr....It is not illegal to know who cops are, where they live, what they make, OR where a Squad Car is. You are protecting the criminals. Unless you are one of those Big Government types who think all power should be kept by politicians and they decide what you get to know.

 

[bmark]

This app developer is an idiot! The first amendment prevents the government from banning apps or restricting speech within them unless it falls into categories like incitement which this app absolutely does.

Apple App Store is a private entity so they set their rules to block apps.

 

[Chaos215bar2]

Free speech? Aiding and abetting criminal activity at the federal level should be a federal crime. And be rewarded with Federal PMITA prison time.

Criminal activity… such as?

This app developer is an idiot! The first amendment prevents the government from banning apps or restricting speech within them unless it falls into categories like incitement which this app absolutely does.

Incitement to what? Peaceful, legal protest of what in many cases is clearly unconstitutional activity?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

This app developer is an idiot! The first amendment prevents the government from banning apps or restricting speech within them unless it falls into categories like incitement which this app absolutely does.

Apple App Store is a private entity so they set their rules to block apps.

Please show, with specifics, how this incites or has incited anything.

Don’t forget to show your work!

 

[bmark]

Please state, with specifics, how this incites or has incited anything.

Don’t forget to show your work!

Paid protesters show up with printed signs. This isn't rocket science!

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Paid protesters show up with printed signs. This isn't rocket science!

I protested, will in the future, and I wasn’t paid. Who do I contact to get paid?

You didn’t show your work..because you’re making things up. It isn’t rocket science!

 

[bmark]

Criminal activity… such as?


Incitement to what? Peaceful, legal protest of what in many cases is clearly unconstitutional activity?

Nothing is peaceful with these unruly protestors who threaten federal officers.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Paid protesters show up with printed signs. This isn't rocket science!

Sounds like a sweet gig! Any ideas where to sign up?

 

[bmark]

I protested, will in the future, and I wasn’t paid. Who do I contact to get paid?

You didn’t show your work..because you’re making things up. It isn’t rocket science!

I'm sure someone

I protested, will in the future, and I wasn’t paid. Who do I contact to get paid?

You didn’t show your work..because you’re making things up. It isn’t rocket science!

Apparently you aren't protesting very well then. Maybe you should start a go fund me for the app developer.

 

[Kkspire]

Doesn’t matter. Those people use Facebook groups and WhatsApp groups to discuss this.

 

[Chaos215bar2]

Nothing is peaceful with these unruly protestors who threaten federal officers.

Gotta watch out for those dancing octopods! Never know what they'll get up to when you aren't looking.

 

[Hajj.david]

Someone asking Apple to enforce their own guidelines is absolutely problematic if that "someone" is the US government. It's unconstitutional, in fact. And it isn't thin...speaking as a First Amendment attorney, this is easily the strongest case of government "jawboning" I've ever seen.

Also not sure if Apple reorganized the App Store guidelines, but here is 1.1.1:



If this is actually what Apple was citing, it's not remotely clear how it even applies here.

The first amendment does not protect against evading arrest or obstruction of justice, which is what this app was used for, to thawart law enforcement officers from executing legal warrants and allowing fugitives to escape.

In addition this is a clear violation of Apples own anti-doxxing clause.

Agreed and I'd assume the lawyer that picked up the case has already done his/her due diligence on this. But this is all moot considering that the Supreme Court bends over for the Trump Administration if/when this gets punted to them. Constitutional rights are a thing of the past these days

There has never been a constitutional right to obstruct justice. ICE is collecting people with active warrants signed by a judge. Helping criminals hide is not a protected activity.

Google Maps and Waze both feature the ability to report where law enforcement officers are engaging in speed enforcement and other traffic measures. Both are allowed under Apple's rules and both have been tested in court and declared legal based on First Amendment grounds. Other than the charged political climate around immigration enforcement there's no reason this app should be banned if Google Maps and Waze are not.

And before someone argues that immigration offenses differ in severity to traffic offenses, both categories can range from simple civil offenses to major felonies (aggravated DWI, for example).

There is a massive difference between "a cop is here" for a speed trap, vs informing criminals of active raids to causing protestors and criminals to attack ICE Or block them from doing their job.

they aren't law enforcement officers, when did LEO start wearing masks?

Yes they are, and for decades. If not hundreds of years. LEOs especially undercover or those whose lives are at risk will cover their faces so nut jobs dont attack them or their family. Mexico police almost exclusively mask up for the same reason.

That's a pretty big jump there Mr....It is not illegal to know who cops are, where they live, what they make, OR where a Squad Car is. You are protecting the criminals. Unless you are one of those Big Government types who think all power should be kept by politicians and they decide what you get to know.

But it is illegal to leak out the location of a warrant being served for the purpose of distrupting / obstructing justice. The app is literally called ICE BLOCK. TO BLOCK law enforcement.

Criminal activity… such as?


Incitement to what? Peaceful, legal protest of what in many cases is clearly unconstitutional activity?

I dont recall anywhere in the constitution saying its legal activity to illegally enter the country. Nor is attacking ICE. People were fooled by the "mostly peaceful protests" for george floyd, nobody believes that lie anymore, there is thousands of videos of ice vehicles and officers being attached by "Peaceful legal protests"

Please, nobody is buying it.

Here is a brief 3 second google search:

Please show, with specifics, how this incites or has incited anything.

Don’t forget to show your work!

See above

 

[Hajj.david]

I protested, will in the future, and I wasn’t paid. Who do I contact to get paid?

You didn’t show your work..because you’re making things up. It isn’t rocket science!

So you are telling me you wasted your time, money, and life to defend illegal immigration and you didnt even get paid for it. lmao

 

[jarman92]

The first amendment does not protect against evading arrest or obstruction of justice, which is what this app was used for, to thawart law enforcement officers from executing legal warrants and allowing fugitives to escape.

Not even sure where to start with this...the First Amendment protects speech, and this app contained absolutely nothing but speech.

In addition this is a clear violation of Apples own anti-doxxing clause.

Where is this "anti-doxxing clause?" And how was this "doxxing?" The app IDed public ICE activity, not the personal information of individual agents.

ICE is collecting people with active warrants signed by a judge.

They aren't, actually, and there are dozens if not hundreds of federal cases about this. In the overwhelming majority of cases, ICE is "collecting" people with administrative warrants signed by ICE with no judicial involvement whatsoever. Because in the overwhelming majority of cases, the people ICE is "collecting" aren't criminals.

There is a massive difference between "a cop is here" for a speed trap, vs informing criminals of active raids to causing protestors and criminals to attack ICE Or block them from doing their job.

There really isn't. "A cop is here" for a speed trap is in no way different than "a cop is here" for ICE activity. Both are unquestionably protected speech.

Yes they are, and for decades. If not hundreds of years. LEOs especially undercover or those whose lives are at risk will cover their faces so nut jobs dont attack them or their family. Mexico police almost exclusively mask up for the same reason.

This is America, last I checked (and as people such as yourself are so fond of screaming).

But it is illegal to leak out the location of a warrant being served for the purpose of distrupting / obstructing justice. The app is literally called ICE BLOCK. TO BLOCK law enforcement.

No. No it absolutely is not.

 

[bLackjackj]

Apple is not named in the lawsuit, and is not being targeted by Aaron.

This makes no sense.

No matter who asked Apple, Apple gave the reason “…your app violates Guideline 1.1.1”.

Apple removed it.

It was Apples choice! 🙄🤦‍♂️

 

[GlassFingers]

What part of 1.1.1 is applicable here?

Intimidation maybe?

 

[jarman92]

According to your logic, judicial GAG orders are also unconstitutional, but yet, here we are.

People don't have a constitutional right to help people evade arrest.

I wouldn't hire you to be my lawyer.

Judicial gag orders are very rare, heavily scrutinized, and frequently invalidated as unconstitutional. They're only imposed when there's a substantial likelihood or material prejudice to the proceedings, and they must be narrowly tailored to serve that interest (e.g. "you can't say X," never "you can't speak at all") and supported with factual findings of specific, imminent risk. None of that applies here (and nobody is involved in a legal proceeding).

 

[Huracan]

Free speech? Aiding and abetting criminal activity at the federal level should be a federal crime. And be rewarded with Federal PMITA prison time.

Would you agree that there might be legitimate uses of an app like this? I might want to avoid areas where there is active ICE operations as there could be shots fired or other disruptions. Given the random way they grab people off the street it might save US citizens and legal immigrants some grief by avoiding areas of ICE activity.