The developer of ICEBlock, an app used to track local sightings of ICE agents and other law enforcement agencies, filed suit against the U.S. government on Monday, claiming it had violated his rights to free speech.
When Apple removed the app from its store in October, its creator Joshua Aaron blamed the Trump administration for imposing pressure on the iPhone maker to block ICEBlock due to the threat that it would be employed to attack U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
In the complaint filed by attorneys representing Aaron, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi clarified that the government “used its regulatory power to coerce a private platform to suppress First Amendment-protected expression,” when she stated that the Department of Justice demanded that Apple remove the app, which was only available on iOS.
The suit asserted that Apple referred to one of its review policies stating that apps cannot enable objectionable material, which can be utilized to harm a targeted group. According to the suit, Apple claimed that ICEBlock is aimed at law enforcement officers.
Aaron informed CNBC on Monday that his complaint was inspired by the U.S. founding fathers, who believed that “The survival of our democratic republic isn’t guaranteed.”
Aaron said, “It requires constant vigilance, active and informed participation of its citizens. When we see or think our government is doing something wrong, it’s our duty to hold them accountable. And that is the heart of this lawsuit.”
Aaron stated that the attorneys with the law firm Sher Tremonte in New York are representing him on a pro bono basis. Therefore, it’s not the first time Apple has made such a move.
The company removed the app, which was used by Hong Kong protesters to monitor police movements at the time of public dispute over the city’s connection with China. Apple claimed that the app was removed due to its use of the app by criminals to ambush and target the police.
Aaron had created an Android version of his application, but reported he could not release it. He added that Google parent Alphabet also pledged to block apps that assist people in monitoring the positions of law enforcement after Apple decided to withdraw ICE Block.
Apple and Google’s representatives did not respond immediately to the request for comment. And the DOJ also does not respond to comments.
Aaron released ICEBlock in April in response to the aggressive crackdown by the Trump administration on immigrants.
New statistics released by the University of California at Berkeley through the Deportation Data Project indicated that “more than a third of the roughly 220,000 people arrested by ICE officers in the first nine months of the Trump administration had no criminal histories.”
A polling data issued by Gallup on November 28 revealed that only 37 percent of US voters approved of the way Trump is handling immigration.
