ICEBlock, an app that lets users anonymously report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, has soared up App Store charts after receiving criticism from the Trump administration. On Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem responded to CNNâs coverage of ICEBlock in a post on X, calling it an âobstruction of justice.â
Following this comment, ICEBlock grew in popularity overnight, bringing it to the top of the App Store on Tuesday before dropping to the third spot at the time of writing. According to its website, ICEBlock lets users report sightings of ICE officials with âtwo tapsâ and view reports that others have made within a five-mile radius.â It also says the app stores no personal data, âmaking it impossible to trace reports back to individual users.â
On Tuesday, Noem told reporters that sheâs going to work with the Department of Justice to see if the Trump administration can âprosecuteâ CNN over its ICEBlock report: âWhat theyâre doing is actively encouraging people to avoid law enforcement activities and operations.â ICE acting Director Todd Lyons also claimed CNNâs reporting is âwillfully endangering the lives of officers.â
A message within ICEBlock says âit is not to be used for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement,â according to CNN. ICEBlock launched in April in response to President Trumpâs mass deportation efforts across the country. CNN says ICEBlock has over 20,000 users who are mostly located in Los Angeles, where many ICE raids are being carried out.
The Trump administrationâs threats have only seemed to increase interest in ICEBlock, which has since seen fakes make their way to the Google Play Store, where itâs currently not available because âthere is no way to provide 100% anonymityâ on Android, according to the appâs developer. Trump supporters and right-wing influencers have also started interacting with the app, with some of them claiming they are âfloodingâ ICEBlock with fake reports in an attempt to drown out real sightings.
The Verge reached out to Apple with a request for comment about ICEBlockâs presence on the App Store but didnât immediately hear back.
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