In October, Apple caved to stress from the Trump administration and removed ICEBlock — and similar apps which crowdsourced the location of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement activity — from its App Store. Apple’s said rationale? The apps might “be used to hurt regulation enforcement officers.” However armed-to-the-teeth ICE officers don’t want safety from civilians. Apple had that precisely backward.
That turned inconceivable to ignore on Wednesday, when ICE agent Jonathon Ross killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in chilly blood. By now, you do not want me to recount her brutal final moments. However the footage (graphic and disturbing because it is) is on the market, and we will see the Trump administration’s propaganda about the occasion for what it is.
ICE was a harmful drive lengthy before this week. This was the company’s ninth shooting since September. 32 folks died in ICE custody in 2025. Round a 3rd of these arrested by ICE brokers — usually masked and refusing to establish themselves — don’t even have criminal records.
What modified this week was, arguably, that the sufferer wasn’t a brown-skinned individual. ICE claimed the lifetime of a white American citizen, one who, according to her spouse, was a form, loving mother and a Christian. Sadly, the US has a darkish historical past of shrugging off violence so long as it’s directed in the direction of a marginalized group. That wasn’t potential for mainstream newsreaders right here.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 8, 2026 Dozens, holding images of Renee Nicole Good, protest her demise a day after an ICE agent killed Good in Minneapolis, in entrance of the Federal Constructing in downtown Los Angeles on January 8, 2026. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Occasions by way of Getty Photos) (Genaro Molina by way of Getty Photos)
On Thursday, Vice President JD Vance smeared Good baselessly, insisting the mom was a part of a “left-wing community.” He additionally claimed ICE holds “absolute immunity” when it comes to doing issues like killing Individuals in broad daylight. In the meantime, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt framed the lethal incident as the “consequence of a bigger, sinister left-wing motion that has unfold throughout our nation.” And the FBI has blocked Minnesota’s felony investigation bureau from accessing proof to full a radical examination of the murder.
Briefly: an company with the full backing of the federal authorities killed an harmless citizen, and whereas there are instruments to inform the public about the seemingly places that company could also be appearing in, Apple has chosen to preserve them from us.
Apple has a historical past of presenting itself as a safer, socially progressive different inside Large Tech. Its keynotes are replete with heartfelt testimony of iPhone and Apple Watch options saving lives. It releases Pride-themed accessories to have fun the LGBTQ+ group and the firm has (thus far) resisted government pressure to get rid of its DEI packages. Hell, its fashionable period was kicked off by the “Right here’s to the loopy ones” TV ad, which intercut photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon and Gandhi — explicitly cloaking its company picture in civil disobedience and social justice.
A photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Apple’s homepage (2015) (Apple / The Web Archive)
However the firm additionally wields that progressive picture for egocentric causes, wrapping enterprise priorities in the guise of conscientiousness. For instance, when authorities rules push for openness or interoperability, Apple warns of the security and privacy risks for its users. When Apple tightly controls the place you should purchase apps, it’s about keeping porn away from the kids. And Apple has determined the theoretical security of ICE officers is extra priceless than the very actual risk they pose to the communities they harass.
ICEBlock’s availability on the App Retailer could not have modified the final result of Wednesday’s occasions. However it might resume its job as a group informer. It might make it simpler to notify the public of the place these masked thugs are congregating, even perhaps serving to others keep away from Good’s destiny.
Engadget has reached out to Apple for remark on reinstating ICEBlock; we’ll replace if we obtain a response.
Disclaimer: This article is sourced from external platforms. OverBeta has not independently verified the information. Readers are advised to verify details before relying on them.
