From @maggiemayhem.bsky.social, otg organizer, re ICEBlock app

I gave the creator and operator of ICEBlock the opportunity to respond; he elected not to, and wasn’t particularly polite. I explained my desire to cover all angles. His response was: “Providing ‘all angles’ is a bad idea”. This doesn’t instill trust.

Definitely does not inspire confidence.

No it does not.

I checked out that app when it first surfaced. It hasn’t been operating long. There are other apps and agencies who have done this work over 20 years. Don’t trust the new shiny thing that refuses to answer questions

I downloaded it, and it barely shows past 1/4 mile around me. It seems pretty useless.

Is there one for Androids? I need one ASAP.

😡

I get what this person is saying, as the choice of angles shouldn't be obligatory, although it's easy to go down the rabbit hole of rejecting any different point of view. They are doing something dangerous. And effective. I agree that the source code should be open as a security principle.

If they refuse to be crystal clear about what it does and how they use the data we provide then it’s not an app that I’ll be downloading or using.

Agreed

This is wild! Why not answer the questions?

Anything out of their mindmap is 1) useless 2) threat 3) they don't know, so better block if ever they get caught. No use trying to communicate with them.

A GOP strategy

This is probably an instance of "security through obscurity" thinking: he knows or suspects there are vulnerabilities in the app, but thinks if no one sees the source, that it won't get hacked. The entire internet operates on the opposite principle: open everything.

What’s your concern with iceblock? It’s not secure or not effective?

This is *really* unfortunate.

They are lost.

The problem is that it's not 'clearly' anything - and that individual is certainly not capable of setting the record straight.

No promises, but I may have found your answer for fighting back against ICE: The ‘Red Dot - ICE Activity Alerts’ app Created by and for *immigrant communities* - Location never stored or tracked - No personal info required or collected - 100% anonymous reports - Data auto-deletes after 5 hours

not if it's limited to certain devices and iOS's it won't help.

It’s on Android too

📌

It's there a version for Android?

Thank you so much! This is so important!

Phil, this checks all the boxes, and has a 100 mile radius, which is helpful with networking. We will give it a shot! Thank you!

For Android O/S phones

Reposted!!!

Help keep our immigrants safe🔥🔥🔥 Thank you Phil… #ProudBlue #ResistanceUnited #OV1

Thank you Phil, they were in Pittsburgh recently

Awesome news Phil! Shared!

Much better

Thank you for finding this Phil. They could be coming to my town with a heavy Hispanic population

love this but need Android support!

bsky.app/profile/pazo...

What Makes Red Dot Different: Per the guide, it’s “the ONLY app that aggregates reports from multiple established ICE monitoring networks AND community members, providing the most comprehensive safety coverage available.” Plus, “every feature is designed with your safety and privacy in mind.”

Important to note, iPhones are a higher end type phone, usually subject to credit checks, Android options need to exist as well. Especially given their lower price points which will appeal to those with smaller budgets.

But what about us Android users?

Red dot is available on Android

Thank you!

Stay tuned for the full story behind my research of the ‘anti-ICE’ apps — and their creators — via Counterpunch (@counterpunchmedia.bsky.social)… Thanks to @joshuafrank.bsky.social, this will be my third piece for the iconic, reader-supported leftist media project bsky.app/profile/phil...