Google and Apple Remove 'Red Dot' ICE Alert App Over Policy Violations.

Google has removed the "Red Dot" application, an alert tool designed to track U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity, from its Play Store. The decision follows a similar move by Apple, effectively pulling the app from both major mobile ecosystems.

The app's developers marketed Red Dot as a "safety tool" that would alert users to nearby ICE activity. It reportedly aggregated information from both "reputable sources" and anonymous, user-generated reports of agent movements.

A spokesperson for Google confirmed the removal to Android Authority, stating that the app was in violation of the Play Store policy. The company specifically cited its rule against applications that carry a "high risk of abuse."

Furthermore, Google noted that apps featuring user-generated content, as Red Dot did with its anonymous reporting system, are subject to stringent moderation requirements. The platform concluded that Red Dot failed to meet these necessary content control standards.

The removal comes amid heightened public interest and scrutiny regarding the aggressive tactics of federal immigration enforcement. However, Google clarified that the Department of Justice had not contacted the company regarding the app prior to its takedown.

This incident is not isolated; the takedown mirrors Apple's earlier removal of the iOS-exclusive app "ICEBlock," which performed a similar function. This signals a unified stance by the major mobile platforms on applications involving law enforcement agencies' location-tracking.