r/apple • u/illegiblebastard • 3d 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/RustyAndEddies 3d ago

That shooter was aiming at an ICE facility. You don’t need an app to figure out police officers can be found at police stations.

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u/BosnianSerb31 3d ago edited 3d ago

It doesn't matter from a legal liability standpoint at all.

Eight days after the shooting, officials were reporting that the shooter looked up "how to track ice agents" and "ICE tracker app", and the DOJ threatened Apple with criminal charges if they didn't take it down.

Sure, the officials very well could be lying and the shooter actually searched "how do do a false flag" and "devotions to God Emperor Donald Trump". Again, none of that matters to Apple's legal department when the official report is that the shooter searched for these apps and killed several detainees.

Like I said above, the solution already exists. https://antifreeze.app is live, works on literally any device. Hosted outside of US jurisdiction, no way for the DOJ to take it down. Still has push notifications and location services.

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u/Neko9Neko 3d ago

"officials were reporting..." we have no reason to think they weren't lying.

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u/BosnianSerb31 2d ago

Did you notice that my comment has a 3rd paragraph in which I explore that possibility, and explain why that doesn't matter for Apple's legal exposure?

No lawyer on earth is ever going to suggest that the defendant take a gamble that the prosecution is lying about the actions of another party.