An app allowing users to anonymously report ICE activity has surged to the top of the Apple store after it was condemned by government officials. ICEBlock, which is currently the most popular free app in the U.S. and the third most popular app overall, was accused of being “an incitement of further violence against ICE officers” by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, The Verge reported. ICE Director Todd M. Lyons claimed the app “basically paints a target” on officials’ backs. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said she would work with the Justice Department to prosecute ICEBlock creator Joshua Aaron. Attorney General Pam Bondi added that Aaron “better watch out” after “threatening the lives of our law enforcement officers.” Yet the condemnations have done little to dissuade people from using the app. CNN reported that the app has over 20,000 users who are mostly located in Los Angeles. The app stores none of its users personal data, “making it impossible to trace reports back to individual users,” and a disclaimer on the app makes it clear that it is “not to be used for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement.” ICEBlock is currently only available on iOS as it is impossible to ensure total anonymity on the Android’s Google Play store, The Verge reported.
Read it at The Verge
