The creator of ICEBlock, an app that allows people in the US to report sightings of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, has dismissed threats from President Donald Trump's administration as “hot air” and said his creation has crossed an important threshold.
Joshua Aaron said that despite continuing threats of litigation, ICEBlock had exceeded one million downloads, adding that the app was growing its user base by at least 10,000 downloads each day.
Mr Aaron was speaking at the Hackers Of Planet Earth (Hope) symposium at Saint John's University in New York. Organisers allowed him to address the symposium remotely “due to the targeting of the speaker” by the White House.
“It's all been hot air,” he said at the event on Sunday. “They love to get in front microphone and they love to make threatening comments.”
The app aims to alert users to the presence of ICE officials within an 8km radius. It is powered by crowdsourced data, relying on people to report the location of ICE agents.
It also allows provides a notes section that gives users the option of adding context to the location and what they're witnessing.
Mr Aaron said Apple's iOS App Store initially denied the app when he submitted it for approval this year.
“It wasn't denied for any other reason than Apple went 'I don't know what to do with this, because nothing has ever been done like this before',” he told conference attendees. He said he went back and forth with Apple for several weeks, explaining that he wasn't monetising the app, collecting data or anything else that violated the company's policies.
“Their legal team looked into everything and said it was absolutely protected speech, and then they signed off on it.”
Mr Aaron said he thought it was unlikely that Apple would cave to pressure from the Trump White House to remove ICEBlock.
It is currently only available for iPhone and Mr Aaron said the privacy settings he deems necessary for ICEBlock are not yet possible on Android devices.
The app has continued to anger Mr Trump, who has made it a priority to increase funding for ICE, which has ramped up the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants.
Critics say the agents arrest and deport people with little concern for their legal rights, including due process.
Mr Aaron, who is Jewish, previously told The National that he had decided to create the app after meeting Holocaust survivors and learning about Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Nazi Germany.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has suggested that those promoting the app should face prosecution.
“We’re working with the Department of Justice to see if we can prosecute them because what they’re doing is actually encouraging people to avoid law enforcement activity operations,” she said in July.
Several weeks later, Mr Aaron's wife, who worked as a forensic auditor for the US Department of Justice in Austin, was fired from her job.
A representative for the department told The National at the time that Mr Aaron's wife Carolyn Feinstein had a “sizeable interest” in the app, and that the DOJ would “not tolerate” someone connected with a tool that encouraged threats against law enforcement.
Ms Feinstein told The National that she was not ruling out legal responses to her termination, and said she had nothing to do with the app's development.
ICEBlock's creator has continued to insist that the app is not unconstitutional or illegal, and has taken issue with the White House claims that it threatens the safety of law enforcement.
“Please note that the use of this app is for information and notification purposes only,” reads a disclaimer appearing throughout ICEBlock. Another warning states that the app should not be used “for the purposes of inciting violence or interfering with law enforcement”.
Mr Aaron compared ICEBlock to similar apps and tools which allow smartphone users to report police speed traps in the US.
“That's the same principle we have with ICEBlock,” he said, citing the legality of those apps.
Masked ICE agents have swept up thousands of migrants in a nationwide dragnet that has sometimes snared US citizens and green card holders. Current and former detainees have said they were kept in dire conditions in ICE custody, charges the agency denies.
When asked at the Hope conference if the Trump administration followed through with promises of litigation related to the app, Mr Aaron said the threats remained just threats.
He said that lawyers had reached out to him and agreed to represent ICEBlock pro bono.
“It's some of the finest legal minds I have ever come across,” he said, adding that the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union are some of those taking part in his defence.
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi
Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.
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Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
Results:
5pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600 metres
Winner: Dasan Da, Saeed Al Mazrooei (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: AF Saabah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Mukaram, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
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7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) | Dh70,000 | 1,400m
Winner: RB Inferno, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m
Winner: Juthoor, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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In 2018, the ICRC received 27,756 trace requests in the Middle East alone. The global total was 45,507.
There are 139,018 global trace requests that have not been resolved yet, 55,672 of these are in the Middle East region.
More than 540,000 individuals approached the ICRC in the Middle East asking to be reunited with missing loved ones in 2018.
The total figure for the entire world was 654,000 in 2018.
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
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- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Pakhtoons 137-6 (10 ov)
Fletcher 68 not out; Cutting 2-14
Sindhis 129-8 (10 ov)
Perera 47; Sohail 2-18
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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