On September 28, 2026, U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin asked Apple for a list of apps removed after Justice Department concerns and an independent review of those decisions. He also raised concerns that the removals could burden First Amendment rights to record and report government activity.
Raskin requested records and an independent review
Raskin’s request concerns Apple’s removal of ICEBlock and similar apps from the App Store in 2025. He wants Apple to identify the apps removed following Justice Department concerns and allow an independent review of the decisions.
Apple cited safety risks from precise location data
ICEBlock let users share reports of ICE agents’ presence or locations. Apple said precise location information could put officers and people nearby, including protesters and detainees, at risk of targeted violence.
In a July 2026 letter to Raskin, Apple said it conducted a follow-up review after reports from agencies about increased ICE activity and threats. The company connected that review to a September 2025 shooting at a Dallas ICE office that left two detainees dead.
Raskin challenged the link to the Dallas shooting
Apple cited the shooting as context for its review. Raskin disputed a direct connection between the incident and the apps, challenging the rationale for linking the shooting to the removal decisions.
Aaron’s lawsuit centers on government pressure
ICEBlock creator Joshua Aaron, who filed a separate lawsuit, alleges that government pressure played a role in the removal. Federal officials maintain that Apple made its own moderation decision. The administration has asked a court to dismiss Aaron’s lawsuit, arguing that the public statements and communications did not amount to a threat of adverse government action.
