Latest news with #ICEBlock
Tahawul Tech
40 minutes ago
- Politics
- Tahawul Tech
New app launched in the wake on U.S. immigration crackdown
Joshua Aaron, a tech industry veteran of two decades, has designed a new app to let users alert people nearby to sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in their area. Aaron launched the platform, called ICEBlock, in early April after watching President Donald Trump's administration begin its immigration crackdown. The White House's immigration policies have sparked mass protests across the United States. ICEBlock currently has more than 20,000 users, many of whom are in Los Angeles, where controversial, large-scale deportation efforts have taken place. 'When I saw what was happening in this country, I wanted to do something to fight back', Aaron said, adding that the deportation efforts feel, to him, reminiscent of Nazi Germany. 'We're literally watching history repeat itself'. ICEBlock is designed to be an 'early warning system' for users when ICE is operating nearby, Aaron said. Users can add a pin on a map showing where they spotted agents — along with optional notes, like what officers were wearing or what kind of car they were driving. Other users within a five-mile radius will then receive a push alert notifying them of the sighting. Aaron said he hopes those notifications will help people avoid interactions with ICE, noting that he does not want users to interfere with the agency's operations. The app provides a similar warning when users log a sighting: 'Please note that the use of this app is for information and notification purposes only. It is not to be used for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement'. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons released a statement saying that ICEBlock 'basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers' backs' and that 'officers and agents are already facing a 500% increase in assaults'. ICEBlock doesn't collect personal data, and users are completely anonymous, according to Aaron. It's only available on iOS because Aaron says the app would have to collect information that could ultimately put users at risk to provide the same experience on Android. Reassuring users of those privacy protections will likely be key to growing ICEBlock's user base, given how the government is building a database to aid in its deportation efforts. 'We don't want anybody's device ID, IP address, location,' Aaron said. 'We don't want anything being discoverable. And so, this is 100% anonymous and free for anybody who wants to use it'. Although ICEBlock has no surefire way of guaranteeing the accuracy of user reports, Aaron says he's built safeguards to prevent users from spamming the platform with fake sightings. Users can only report a sighting within five miles of their location, and they can only report once every five minutes. Reports are automatically deleted after four hours. Aaron says he has no plans to monetize the free app but rather wants it to be a service to the community. Aaron's work on ICEBlock stands in contrast to the support that some leaders in Silicon Valley have shown to Trump, including by donating to and attending his inauguration. Some companies have also announced investments in expanding their US presence following the president's push for domestic tech manufacturing. 'I think I would say grow a backbone. You can't just be about the money,' Aaron said when asked what he would say to those tech leaders. 'I understand that you have shareholders to report to. I understand that you have employees that need their paychecks,' he added. 'But at what point do you say, 'Enough is enough'?' Source: CNN Image Credit: Stock Image
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump administration alleges CNN 'sabotaged' ICE with tracking app
By Stephen Miller (pictured) led several members of the Trump administration slamming CNN for helping illegal migrants 'sabotage' ICE by promoting an app that allows people to track the movement of agents. The left-leaning network aired a story on Monday on a new app called ICEBlock, which aims to help people facing detention from the agency. 'ICEBlock is an innovative, completely anonymous crowdsourced platform that allows users to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity with just two taps on their phone,' the app's website says. The app describes itself as 'Waze but for ICE sightings' and cites what it calls 'alleged civil rights abuses and failures to adhere to constitutional principles and due process' as the reason for its existence. 'ICEBlock empowers communities to stay informed about ICE presence within a 5-mile radius while maintaining their anonymity through real-time updates and automatic deletion of sightings after four hours.' CNN running the story caused outrage from the Trump administration, as in addition to Miller, 'border czar' Tom Homan said federal law enforcement should look into the network for 'promoting' the app. 'I'm hoping DOJ steps in here and sees if they crossed that line, impeding federal law enforcement officers,' he said. Karoline Leavitt also attacked the network at the White House press briefing on Monday. 'Surely, it sounds like this would be an incitement of further violence against our ICE officers,' she said, though she admitted to not having seen the segment. 'We'll take a look at it, but certainly it's unacceptable that a major network would promote such an app that is encouraging violence against law enforcement officers who are trying to keep our country safe.' Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons called the network 'reckless and irresponsible' for platforming ICEBlock. 'Advertising an app that basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers' backs is sickening.' Lyons adds that ICE agents already have faced a 500% increase in assaults. 'CNN is willfully endangering the lives of officers who put their lives on the line every day and enabling dangerous criminal aliens to evade U.S. law. Is this simply reckless 'journalism' or overt activism?' Aaron told the network that ICE's efforts remind him of Nazi Germany. 'When I saw what was happening in this country, I wanted to do something to fight back. We're literally watching history repeat itself.' Aaron does not want to see further violence and the app comes with a warning. Please note that the use of this app is for information and notification purposes only. It is not to be used for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement.' 'We don't want anybody's device ID, IP address, location,' Aaron said. 'We don't want anything being discoverable. And so, this is 100% anonymous and free for anybody who wants to use it.' A spokesperson for the network defended their reporting on the app. 'CNN reported on a publicly available app, which is generating attention across the United States, and reached out to ICE for comment prior to publication. After CNN published its reporting, ICE posted a response, which is now included in the story.' ICE looks set to see backup from the federal government upon passage of Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill.' The bill would allow the federal government to hire 10,000 new ICE officers as part of a doubling down on Trump's commitment to securing the border.
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Attorney General Pam Bondi warns ICEBlock app developer to 'watch out,' says DOJ is 'looking at him'
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized a CNN report highlighting an app that alerts users to nearby Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sightings and warned the developer to "watch out." The app, ICEBlock, was created by Joshua Aaron, who said he wanted to "do something to fight back" against the Trump administration's deportations of illegal immigrants, which he likens to being reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Aaron told CNN that the app allows anonymous users to share where they've seen ICE agents. Users can also include additional details, such as the clothes agents are wearing or the cars they are driving. "Our ICE agents, all of our federal agents who are working hand in hand on these task force[s] — our federal agents from the Justice Department could be injured," Bondi said Monday on "Hannity." "He's giving a message to criminals where our federal officers are. And he cannot do that. And we are looking at it, we are looking at him, and he better watch out, because that's not a protected speech. That is threatening the lives of our law enforcement officers throughout this country." ICEBlock comes with a disclaimer, telling users not to interfere with the federal agency's operations or to incite violence. "Please note that the use of this app is for information and notification purposes only. It is not to be used for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement," the notification says, according to CNN. News of the app and CNN's coverage drew strong condemnation from the White House and top Trump administration officials, who say the app endangers federal officers by broadcasting their locations. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said ICE agents and officers are already facing a 500% increase in assaults as the administration's deportation efforts ramp up. Border czar Tom Homan told "The Will Cain Show" that the app only makes law enforcement's job more dangerous. "It's simply disgusting and any network that covers that is disgusting as well," said Homan. Bondi also criticized CNN for "promoting" the app, doubling down on her argument that it could endanger law enforcement officers. "Shame on them," she told Fox News host Sean Hannity. A CNN spokesperson defended the network's coverage and reporting, telling Fox News Digital in a statement: "CNN reported on a publicly available app, which is generating attention across the United States, and reached out to ICE for comment prior to publication. After CNN published its reporting, ICE posted a response, which is now included in the story."
Sky News AU
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Karoline Leavitt savagely unleashes on CNN for promoting controversial ICE tracking app
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has unleashed on television network CNN. The slam came during a press briefing where Leavitt discussed CNN promoting an ICEBlock app. The new app informs people of the locations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. During the press briefing, Leavitt was questioned by The Daily Wire's Mary Margaret Olohan about CNN's coverage of the app. 'I just watched a CNN segment on a new app called ICEBlock, and it kind of appeared to be promoting this app where you can tell people where ICE agents are,' Olohan said. 'Given the 500 per cent increase in assaults on ICE agents, I wanted to see if you could comment on that and why CNN would be promoting such an app.' Leavitt unleashed on CNN, saying this would just incite further violence against ICE agents. 'It's unacceptable that a major network would promote such an app that is encouraging violence against law enforcement officers," Leavitt said.
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Trump administration accuses CNN of 'sabotaging' ICE with tracking app
Stephen Miller led several members of the Trump administration slamming CNN for helping illegal migrants 'sabotage' ICE by promoting an app that allows people to track the movement of agents. The left-leaning network aired a story on a new app called ICEBlock on Monday which aims to help people facing detention from the agency. 'CNN is openly helping invaders and insurrectionists sabotage ICE,' said Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff and one of the architects of his immigration policy. The app was designed by Joshua Aaron, a tech developer who describes himself on BlueSky as 'Proud Antifa.' 'ICEBlock is an innovative, completely anonymous crowdsourced platform that allows users to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity with just two taps on their phone,' the app's website says. The app describes itself as 'Waze but for ICE sightings' and cites what it calls 'alleged civil rights abuses and failures to adhere to constitutional principles and due process' as the reason for its existence. 'ICEBlock empowers communities to stay informed about ICE presence within a 5-mile radius while maintaining their anonymity through real-time updates and automatic deletion of sightings after four hours.' CNN running the story caused outrage from the Trump administration, as in addition to Miller, 'border czar' Tom Homan said federal law enforcement should look into the network for 'promoting' the app. 'ICEBlock is an innovative, completely anonymous crowdsourced platform that allows users to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity with just two taps on their phone,' the app's website says 'I'm hoping DOJ steps in here and sees if they crossed that line, impeding federal law enforcement officers,' he said. Karoline Leavitt also attacked the network at the White House press briefing on Monday. 'Surely, it sounds like this would be an incitement of further violence against our ICE officers,' she said, though she admitted to not having seen the segment. 'We'll take a look at it, but certainly it's unacceptable that a major network would promote such an app that is encouraging violence against law enforcement officers who are trying to keep our country safe.' Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons called the network 'reckless and irresponsible' for platforming ICEBlock. 'Advertising an app that basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers' backs is sickening.' Lyons adds that ICE agents already have faced a 500% increase in assaults. 'CNN is willfully endangering the lives of officers who put their lives on the line every day and enabling dangerous criminal aliens to evade U.S. law. Is this simply reckless 'journalism' or overt activism?' Aaron told the network that ICE's efforts remind him of Nazi Germany. 'When I saw what was happening in this country, I wanted to do something to fight back. We're literally watching history repeat itself.' Aaron does not want to see further violence and the app comes with a warning. 'Please note that the use of this app is for information and notification purposes only. It is not to be used for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement.' 'We don't want anybody's device ID, IP address, location,' Aaron said. 'We don't want anything being discoverable. And so, this is 100% anonymous and free for anybody who wants to use it.' A spokesperson for the network defended their reporting on the app. 'CNN reported on a publicly available app, which is generating attention across the United States, and reached out to ICE for comment prior to publication. After CNN published its reporting, ICE posted a response, which is now included in the story.' ICE looks set to see backup from the federal government upon passage of Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill.' The bill would allow the federal government to hire 10,000 new ICE officers as part of a doubling down on Trump's commitment to securing the border.
