The tech giant takes down US immigration officer monitoring applications
The company has removed applications that permitted users to report encounters of personnel from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Apple declared it had taken down the tracking application from its application marketplace after police informed them about concerning "dangerous implications" connected with this app and "related programs".
According to a announcement shared with news outlets, the Attorney General the official had "requested" the app's withdrawal stating it was "designed to place enforcement personnel at risk".
Its developer countered that such allegations were "patently false" and alleged Apple of "giving in to an authoritarian regime".
Background of the Debated Software
The application is one of numerous programs introduced recently in reaction to heightened border control activities across the United States.
Critics - such as the developer of ICEBlock - allege the authorities of abusing its influence and "creating anxiety" to local neighborhoods.
The complimentary software operates by revealing the movements of immigration officers. It has been downloaded over a 1 million occasions in the America.
Safety Concerns
Nevertheless, law enforcement contended it was being utilized to single out enforcement personnel, with the FBI indicating that the person who attacked an immigration center in Texas in September - killing two persons - had used similar apps to follow the locations of officers and their transportation.
Through an official declaration, the technology firm commented: "We created the digital storefront to be a secure and reliable platform to locate apps.
"Following information we've obtained from police about the potential dangers associated with the software, we have removed it and comparable applications from the App Store."
Creator's Reaction
However its creator, Joshua Aaron, refuted it presented a danger.
"The software is similar to crowd sourcing speed traps, which each significant location software, such as their internal Maps app," he stated.
"This represents free speech rights under the first amendment of the US Constitution."
Mr Aaron - who has worked in the technology sector for a long time - before stated he developed the app out of worry over a surge in immigration raids.
"I closely observed pretty closely during the prior leadership and then I paid attention to the discourse during the political contest for the present," he stated.
"My brain started thinking about what was about to transpire and what I could achieve to protect individuals."
Administration Position
The White House and FBI had criticized the software after it debuted in April and usage rose.
