Lets build more ICE-tracking apps
this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
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Twenty years ago tracking armed thugs in ski masks would have been called a public service.
Was curious so Iooked up the app's site.
Apparently the devs claim they can't release it on Android because "There's no way to be anonymous on the play store", but it's even more impossible to be anonymous on the platform they've released. That's how you know the developer is incredibly stupid and/or shady as hell- because they've never even heard of Fdroid?
Makes me think the app is a troll/trojan horse (not as in infection, trojan horse as in it has alterior motives)
The Drumpf crew "losing it" over the app just makes it more questionable. They love to create a firestorm so people talk about the thing "they definitely don't want you to use!!" to get people to do things...
they mentioned that its because push notifications require device id and that would make it easy to be tracked if aubpoenaed.
I'm not sure if this guy is just dumb or it's a honeypot.
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As mentioned elsewhere, they don't use device ID
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Android is the only platform that supports alternative push methods
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Apple knows everyone who downloads this app, which is subject to subpoena
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The gov has been collecting push notification data from both Apple and Google for a long time. It would be as simple as knowing when notifications went out and then comparing timestamps to figure out who is using the app.
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The app is closed-source
It would take significantly more mental energy on the part of the user but it would be far safer (which is extremely important in this specific case, as the dev agrees) to distribute through F-Droid and then use some other UnifiedPush implementation, as many Android apps already do. Anyone using this app is painting a huge target on their backs for the current authoritarian state.
Interesting, especially with GrapheneOS people shooting it down immediately to call them out on their baloney.
Push notifications though GMS don't use the device ID; they use a generated GCM registration ID that occasionally rotates. Who knows what Google uses internally to associate GCM reg IDs to users, but to overly state that it uses device IDs is simply not correct.
I'm not suggesting push notifications are inherently secure because it's impossible to make that determination from the outside. But their assessment is incorrect and the same privacy concerns apply to Apple.
I'm pretty certain push notifications have been shown to be grossly insecure actually...
There's no way to be anonymous on the play store
Aurora store.
I was quoting them but you're right-or Fdroid ofc
This gives honeypot vibes. IOS only with no way to access via browser?
It's going to be filled with false warnings from MAGA idiots and trolls...
I love how the Streisand Effect works. They just made this app the hottest thing out there.
It's closed source, and the build and publishing pipeline isn't transparent.
For me that makes this no different than a potential ICE honey pot
can’t even find “Joshua Aaron” on linked in or github. feels a little sus. my moneys on honey pot
Has to be shit is glowing
Haven't followed it much (EU), can you elaborate who did what and what can be done potentially?
Haven't followed it much
Oh lord, where do I even start? It's an entire shit show. And not the usual political shit show. A really scary one that's truly heartbreaking. I don't even really feel safe talking about it
which is exactly what this whole 'meltdown' frame for the pr hints at. republicans know how to use publicity stunts to get what they want.
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Shouldn’t be an app. It should be a site accessible using vpn and private browsing with an appropriate browser. Nobody should have to worry about the Stasi finding the app on their phone regardless of the situation.
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Is the app foss?
No, and even worse, its only for apple devices lmao. These kids are so unserious in their activism it would be funny if it werent so sad. If shit hits the fan, this stuff will go down instantly and im sure it has no backup plan for a Tor based or p2p service. Activists in the US should start using Briar. This situation is exactly what it was made for and people have to get their tech game up fast or they will be done for. Get a shitty 80$ android phone if you only have an iphone. Install a panic trigger app that will wipe the phone if you are in trouble.
On ICEBlocks website it says:
Modeled after Waze but for ICE sightings, the app ensures user privacy by storing no personal data, making it impossible to trace reports back to individual users.
Which worries me, because if its closed source then thats a worthless promise and actually makes the app a perfect candidate for a honeypot or backdoor.
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Sweet. I appreciate that their reaction has Streisand-effected this app into my awareness.
I would imagine this is very similar to marking a cop on Waze and completely legal which is why they are throwing a hissy fit.
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"[the app] basically paints a target on federal law enforcement officers’ backs"
When it comes to painting targets on backs, better them then innocent civilians.
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