Apple Removed an App Under Government Pressure

Again. What has changed, and not changed, from HKmap.live to ICEblock? Who criticized Apple back then, and where are they now?

Today, it was reported that Apple removed from its App Store the “most popular” ICE-tracking app:

Apple removes ICE tracking apps after pressure by Trump administration.
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/apple-removes-ice-tracking-apps-after-pressure-by-trump-administration-2025-10-03/

The uncanny similarity immediately strikes. In 2019, Apple did the same for an app in Hong Kong with a similar purpose.

Apple Removes App That Helps Hong Kong Protesters Track the Police
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/technology/apple-hong-kong-app.html

One of the justifications taken up to enforce the ban was that it endangered the safety of law enforcement and residents of the city.

So, Apple has not changed. Follow local government laws and orders. That, of course, includes the U.S. government’s.

Then, who changed? What changed?

Lawmakers criticize Apple CEO Tim Cook for ‘censorship’ of apps in China
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/18/lawmakers-criticize-apples-tim-cook-for-censorship-of-apps-in-china.html

The letter was signed by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ).