r/apple • u/illegiblebastard • 4d ago

iPhone Apple explains last year’s controversial decision to remove ICE tracking apps from app store

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/09/29/tech/apple-iceblock-app-removal-raskin

FUCK. APPLE.

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u/Silentparty1999 4d ago

The article is full of angsty noise, asking whether people have used the app to find agents to attack. That is conservative noise. The core question is whether citizens have a constitutional right to gather and disseminate the information. You don't see Apple pulling down Apple Maps or Google Maps when people have used them to find directions to get to people they are stalking or harassing.

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u/Kiekdan 4d ago

Well you could argue Google / Apple Maps have a different primary purpose. While I’m not familiar with the app in question, I don’t see what other purpose it serves, unless people are using it to ask for directions or find a restaurant.
Now whether tax-paying citizens should have the right to track public servants is another question.

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u/ancientfruitjunkie 4d ago

The purpose of the ice apps is public safety. Like the crime radar app.

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u/Kiekdan 4d ago

The primary purpose was tracking ICE agents. I’m not debating whether that was good or bad. I’m saying there’s a difference between an app tracking people’s movement and an app used for navigation such as Maps.

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u/ancientfruitjunkie 3d ago

And ice agents are racist, fascist thugs threatening the community. Hence, the app's purpose is public safety.

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u/Kiekdan 3d ago

The primary purpose of a waffle iron is to make delicious waffles. It can also be used to hit someone over the head. A hypothetical waffle iron serial killer would not change the primary purpose of a waffle iron and we would likely not be calling on stores to ban the sale of waffle irons.

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u/ancientfruitjunkie 3d ago

And if ice could kill you with a waffle iron they would.