Overview
- Chair Andrew Garbarino and Subcommittee Chair Josh Brecheen sent letters to Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai seeking details on removals and prevention measures, with a briefing due by December 12.
- The letters allege the app ICEBlock was used to track agents before a deadly September shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas.
- Apple previously removed ICEBlock and similar tools after DOJ outreach, following a download surge that pushed ICEBlock past one million users.
- Google says ICEBlock was never on the Play Store, though it removed comparable apps for policy violations.
- Lawmakers cite the Supreme Court’s standard on incitement to imminent lawless action, while ICEBlock’s site denies enabling harm and argues the app constitutes protected speech.