The tech giant pulls US immigration officer monitoring applications
The company has withdrawn applications that allowed users to report sightings of officers from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The company announced it had eliminated the tracking application from its application marketplace after authorities notified them about concerning "dangerous implications" linked to this software and "related programs".
Per a declaration provided to press agencies, the Attorney General the official had "demanded" the app's removal stating it was "designed to put enforcement personnel at danger".
The app's creator argued that such assertions were "completely untrue" and accused Apple of "surrendering to an authoritarian regime".
History of the Controversial App
The application is one of numerous apps launched recently in response to increased immigration crackdown raids across the US.
Critics - including the creator of this application - charge the government of exploiting its authority and "bringing anxiety" to US streets.
The free software works by displaying the locations of immigration officers. It has been acquired in excess of a one million times in the US.
Safety Concerns
Nonetheless, law enforcement maintained it was being utilized to target ICE officers, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation saying that the individual who targeted an ICE facility in Dallas in September - killing two detainees - had used comparable applications to monitor the activities of officers and their vehicles.
Through an official declaration, Apple stated: "We created the App Store to be a safe and trusted environment to locate software.
"Following intelligence we've gathered from police about the security concerns linked to ICEBlock, we have withdrawn it and similar apps from the application marketplace."
Creator's Reaction
However its developer, the developer, refuted it posed a danger.
"This application is no different from crowd sourcing traffic enforcement, which every notable location software, even their internal Maps app," he said.
"This is free speech rights under the first amendment of the United States Constitution."
Mr Aaron - who has worked in the tech industry for a long time - previously mentioned he created the app out of concern over a surge in ICE activities.
"I closely watched intently during the former government and then I listened to the language during the election race for the current," he explained.
"My brain started considering what was going to happen and what I could achieve to protect individuals."
Administration Position
The executive branch and federal law enforcement had criticized the app after it was released in spring and installations grew.