
The Indicator from Planet Money How Apple's market power blocked ICEBlock
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Nov 4, 2025 Joshua Aaron, developer of the controversial ICEBlock app, shares his motivation behind creating a tool for crowdsourcing ICE sightings. He discusses the app's design intent for privacy and speed. The conversation reveals how media attention rapidly increased its user base. However, Apple ultimately removed ICEBlock, citing concerns about targeting law enforcement. Joshua raises critical questions about Apple's power and its implications for free speech, while connecting this case to the Epic Games litigation, underscoring the clash between tech giants and government pressures.
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Developer Built IceBlock After Election Alarm
- Joshua Aaron built IceBlock after reading Project 2025 and worried about mass deportations under a Trump presidency.
- The app grew from a few thousand users to 1.14 million before Apple removed it from the App Store.
Simplicity Enabled Rapid Adoption
- IceBlock prioritized simplicity: a map and quick reporting to be usable by anyone under stress.
- Joshua designed the app to be fast, stable, and minimal to maximize real-time adoption.
Coverage Triggered Explosive Growth And Backlash
- Media coverage and political backlash rapidly spiked IceBlock's user base from thousands to over a million.
- Government figures and commentators publicly condemned the app, prompting Apple to remove it.

