Congress Demands Google and Apple Remove Apps Tracking Immigration Officers Over Safety Concerns

Apple has already removed ICEBlock and similar tracking applications from its App Store.

The House Committee on Homeland Security has formally requested that Google and Apple outline their measures for removing mobile applications that enable users to track federal immigration enforcement officers.

In correspondence delivered Friday to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook, committee leadership specifically mentioned ICEBlock, an application previously utilized to monitor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The committee emphasized that such apps "jeopardize the safety of DHS personnel." The lawmakers have requested a briefing on this matter by December 12.

The correspondence urged both technology giants to ensure these applications cannot be utilized to target officers or impede legitimate immigration enforcement activities.

The committee acknowledged that while free speech protections exist, they do not extend to advocacy that encourages imminent unlawful action, citing a significant Supreme Court decision.

Neither Google nor Apple provided responses to Reuters' inquiries for comment.

The letters follow mounting concerns that these digital tools allow users to anonymously document and track movements of federal agents, including personnel from ICE and Customs and Border Protection.

In October, Google stated that ICEBlock was never available on their Play Store and confirmed they had removed similar applications due to violations of their policies.

Apple similarly removed ICEBlock and comparable tracking applications from its App Store during the same period.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that these applications "put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs," while Apple cited violations of policies prohibiting content that could potentially harm individuals or groups. These removals occurred following a significant increase in ICEBlock downloads, which had accumulated over one million users before being removed from availability.