The US House Committee on Homeland Security has formally requested briefings from Google and Apple over apps that allow users to track federal immigration officers.
Letters sent to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook focus on ICEBlock, an app previously used to crowdsource sightings of US immigration agents. Lawmakers argue such tools threaten the safety of officers working under the Department of Homeland Security.
The committee has asked both companies to provide details by December 12 on how they identify, review, and remove apps that enable the tracking of law enforcement personnel.
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DHS raises safety concerns
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has expressed concern that these apps allow users to anonymously warn communities about enforcement activity.
In its letter, the committee claims ICEBlock was used by a gunman to monitor agent movements ahead of a fatal shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas in September. Lawmakers say this example illustrates how real-time location reporting could be weaponized against federal employees.
Before its removal, ICEBlock reportedly reached more than one million users.
Platform responses and removals
Apple confirmed it removed ICEBlock from the App Store after determining the app could cause harm to individuals or groups. Google stated the app was never listed on the Play Store and said it has taken down other apps with similar functionality when they violate its policies.
Both companies have faced increasing scrutiny over how their app marketplaces handle content tied to public safety and law enforcement activity, particularly when crowd-sourced data is involved.
Despite removal from app stores, ICEBlock continues to function on devices where it was already installed as of December 8, 2025.
Free speech claims from developers
Developers behind ICEBlock argue that the app falls under protected speech. A notice on the project’s website compares ICE tracking to speed trap reporting features found in mainstream navigation tools, including Apple Maps.
The developers also claim the app was designed to inform communities about enforcement activity in response to long-standing criticism of ICE related to civil rights and due process concerns.
These arguments have not changed the position of lawmakers, who continue to frame the issue as one of officer safety rather than speech rights.
Next steps and broader implications
The Homeland Security Committee has indicated it expects cooperation from Google and Apple as it reviews how app platforms handle tools that intersect with law enforcement activity.
The outcome could influence future app store policies, particularly around crowd-sourced tracking, anonymity, and the limits of acceptable public safety-related software.
