ICEBlock app maker sues Trump administration for free speech violations

The shaper of an iPhone app that flagged sightings of U.S. migration agents has sued the Trump medication for escaped code violations

WASHINGTON -- The shaper of an iPhone app that flagged sightings of U.S. migration agents sued the Trump medication for escaped code violations connected Monday, alleging that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi utilized her “state power” to unit Apple to region the app.

Apple successful October removed ICEBlock and different apps from its app store aft Bondi said they enactment Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers astatine hazard by enabling radical to way ICE enactment successful their neighborhoods.

The suit from ICEBlock app shaper Joshua Aaron argued that the government's actions violated the First Amendment.

The suit besides asks a national justice to support the Texas-based bundle developer from prosecution, alleging “unlawful threats made by Attorney General Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons, and White House Border Czar Tom Homan to criminally analyse and prosecute Aaron for his relation successful processing ICEBlock.”

The Department of Justice didn't instantly respond to a petition for comment.

ICEBlock was the astir wide utilized of the ICE-tracking apps successful Apple’s app store until Bondi said successful October that her bureau reached retired to Apple “demanding that they region ICEBlock” and claiming that it “is designed to enactment ICE agents astatine hazard conscionable for doing their jobs.”

Apple soon complied, sending an email to Aaron that said it would artifact further downloads of the app due to the fact that caller accusation “provided to Apple by instrumentality enforcement” showed the app broke the app store rules.

According to the email, which Aaron shared with The Associated Press successful October, Apple said the app violated the company’s policies “because its intent is to supply determination accusation astir instrumentality enforcement officers that tin beryllium utilized to harm specified officers individually oregon arsenic a group.”

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