ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings, goes viral

原始链接: https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/01/iceblock-an-app-for-anonymously-reporting-ice-sightings-goes-viral-overnight-after-bondi-criticism/

ICEBlock, an iPhone app that allows users to anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, has rocketed to one of the coveted top spots in Apple’s U.S. App Store rankings. The upshot: Criticism from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi helped get it there. Most of ICEBlock’s users — about 20,000 — were in Los Angeles, where ICE raids have become commonplace over recent weeks, according to CNN. Following Bondi’s remarks late Monday, the app went viral overnight. As of Tuesday afternoon, the app is now one of the most downloaded free iPhone apps in the United States. With ICEBlock, users can lawfully share information about where they have seen ICE within a 5-mile radius of their location. The app also sends notifications when ICE agents are sighted near the user’s location. The app does not collect or store any user data, which TechCrunch confirmed by analyzing the app’s network traffic as part of a test.

This Hacker News thread discusses ICEBlock, an app for anonymously reporting ICE sightings. The initial comment expresses concern about the need for such an app in contemporary America. Subsequent replies draw parallels to historical instances of marginalized groups creating networks for safety, like the Green Book and the Underground Railroad. Commenters debate the frequency and intensity of ICE raids, with some claiming a significant increase under the current administration. Concerns are raised about potential abuses of power, particularly given ICE's substantial budget. The legality of interfering with law enforcement is also discussed, with arguments made that informing others about ICE presence is protected free speech. Some users fear the app could become a honeypot, while others question its staying power, citing Apple's previous removal of a similar app in Hong Kong. Overall, the thread reflects anxieties about immigration enforcement and the erosion of civil liberties.

ICEBlock, an iPhone app that allows users to anonymously report sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, has rocketed to one of the coveted top spots in Apple’s U.S. App Store rankings. The upshot: Criticism from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi helped get it there.

Most of ICEBlock’s users — about 20,000 — were in Los Angeles, where ICE raids have become commonplace over recent weeks, according to CNN. Following Bondi’s remarks late Monday, the app went viral overnight. As of Tuesday afternoon, the app is now one of the most downloaded free iPhone apps in the United States.

With ICEBlock, users can lawfully share information about where they have seen ICE within a 5-mile radius of their location. The app also sends notifications when ICE agents are sighted near the user’s location.

The app does not collect or store any user data, which TechCrunch confirmed by analyzing the app’s network traffic as part of a test.