The tech giant takes down ICE officer tracking apps
Apple has pulled apps that allowed users to flag sightings of personnel from the immigration enforcement agency.
The technology giant announced it had taken down ICEBlock from its application marketplace after law enforcement informed them about possible "dangerous implications" linked to this software and "comparable applications".
According to a announcement provided to press agencies, US Attorney General the official had "demanded" the app's withdrawal stating it was "created to put ICE officers at danger".
The app's creator argued that such claims were "patently false" and charged the company of "surrendering to an authoritarian regime".
Context of the Debated Software
The application is one of numerous apps introduced this year in response to expanded immigration crackdown activities across the United States.
Detractors - including the maker of this application - charge the government of abusing its powers and "spreading fear" to US streets.
The no-cost application works by displaying the movements of enforcement agents. It has been acquired more than a million instances in the America.
Safety Concerns
However, authorities argued it was being employed to target immigration agents, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation saying that the person who attacked an immigration center in Dallas in recently - fatally shooting two persons - had used comparable applications to track the activities of officers and their transportation.
According to their announcement, the company said: "We developed the App Store to be a safe and trusted environment to locate applications.
"Based on data we've gathered from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and related programs from the application marketplace."
Developer's Response
But its developer, the developer, denied it presented a threat.
"The software is no different from crowdsourcing traffic enforcement, which each significant mapping application, such as Apple's own Maps app," he said.
"This represents constitutionally protected expression under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."
Joshua Aaron - who has worked in the technology sector for years - earlier stated he created the software out of worry over a spike in immigration raids.
"I definitely observed intently during the previous administration and then I paid attention to the rhetoric during the political contest for the present," he said.
"My brain started thinking about what was about to transpire and what I could accomplish to ensure public safety."
Official Response
The executive branch and federal law enforcement had criticized the software after it launched in April and installations grew.