Google removes apps tracking ICE agents in the US

Google

A day after Apple removed ICEBlock from the iOS App Store, Google has quietly followed suit, taking down a similar app called Red Dot from the Play Store. Both apps were designed to let users anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and view alerts nearby—tools critics argue could put officers at risk.

The Department of Justice weighed in this week, with Attorney General Pam Bondi telling Fox News that ICEBlock “is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs, and violence against law enforcement is an intolerable red line.” Under that scrutiny, Apple pulled ICEBlock and other related apps, including Red Dot, citing policy violations.

Developer Joshua Aaron, who built ICEBlock, fired back in a statement to 404 Media, claiming the app is “protected speech” and accusing Apple of “capitulating to an authoritarian regime.” Red Dot, for its part, promoted itself as blending user reports with verified sources to track ICE movements—though its critics argue that such visibility could endanger agents and inflame tensions.

Google said ICEBlock was never available on its store but confirmed Red Dot’s removal, pointing to its policy against apps with “a high risk of abuse.” The company noted that moderation standards apply to any app handling user-generated content.

For now, both Apple and Google are aligned: apps that track law enforcement in real time, particularly amid rising political tensions, won’t find a home in their app stores.