{"id":2568804,"date":"2026-02-11T14:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T19:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bondi-and-noem-sued-for-pressing-tech-leaders-to-target-ice-trackers\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T14:06:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T19:06:42","slug":"bondi-and-noem-sued-for-pressing-tech-leaders-to-target-ice-trackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bondi-and-noem-sued-for-pressing-tech-leaders-to-target-ice-trackers\/","title":{"rendered":"Bondi and Noem sued for pressing tech leaders to target ICE trackers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbondi-and-noem-sued-for-pressing-tech-leaders-to-target-ice-trackers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2568804&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A civil rights group has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Trump governance pressured major tech companies to remove ICE-tracking details, arguing that such actions violate First Amendment free-speech rights.<\/p>\n<p>Key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) represents two plaintiffs against the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice in an Illinois district court, accusing the administration of illegal censorship to suppress information about ICE operations.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; the suit cites pressure on technology platforms, including Apple and Facebook, to remove ICE-tracking apps and a large ICE-related Facebook page, effectively silencing public discussion about government enforcement.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Apple removed the ICEBlock app after contact from officials, and Facebook took down an account with about 84,000 members reporting on ICE activities. The administration framed trackers as threats to law enforcement, while FIRE argues the First Amendment protects the right to share information about government actions.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/finlands-top-court-to-rule-on-whether-quoting-bible-is-a-crime\/\" title=\"Finland&#039;s Top Court To Rule On Whether Quoting Bible Is A Crime\">case highlights broader tensions<\/a> over speech and government openness, with FIRE stressing that protected speech should not be punished for discussing or documenting government actions.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The controversy has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, including calls for investigation by members of the House Judiciary Committee.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; This matter involves allegations that the government\u2019s coercion and censorship targeted the users of ICE-monitoring tools, raising questions about speech rights and government accountability.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Bondi and Noem sued for &lsquo;strong-arming&rsquo; tech companies to target ICE monitoring<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2500396\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/civil-rights\/\">civil rights<\/a> organization is suing the Trump administration for pressuring major technology companies to remove information tracking <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a>, arguing Washington violated free speech rights.<\/p>\n<p>The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >free speech absolutist group<\/a>, is representing two plaintiffs who <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheFIREorg\/status\/2021589249779212669\">filed the lawsuit<\/a> against the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice in an Illinois district court on Wednesday, alleging the Trump administration engaged in illegal censorship to control information.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4453576\/grand-jury-indictment-seditious-six-illegal-orders\/\">Grand jury rejects DOJ attempt to indict &#8216;Seditious Six&#8217; lawmakers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4452929\/federal-judge-tosses-trump-bid-michigan-voter-rolls\/\">Federal judge tosses Trump&#8217;s bid to get Michigan voter rolls<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4453284\/fulton-county-fbi-raid-prompted-by-kurt-olsen-criminal-referral\/\">Fulton County FBI raid prompted by Trump 2020 election lawyer&rsquo;s criminal referral<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi undermined constitutional protections when they &ldquo;strong-armed&rdquo; Apple and Facebook into removing ICE activity monitoring from company platforms, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thefire.org\/research-learn\/verified-complaint-rosado-v-bondi\">according to<\/a> the group&rsquo;s lawsuit. After pressure from the Trump administration, Apple removed Eyes Up and similar apps that allowed users to report sightings of ICE officials in real-time last fall, while Facebook removed a comparable account with over 84,000 members.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As we&rsquo;ve seen across the country, especially in Minneapolis, citizen videos have informed discussion and debate about ICE&rsquo;s operations and tactics,&rdquo; FIRE attorney Colin McDonell said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thefire.org\/news\/fire-sues-bondi-noem-censoring-facebook-group-and-app-reporting-ice-activity\">in a statement<\/a>. &ldquo;The right to share information about our government is essential to a free society. If someone goes out and commits a crime, they can and should be punished for their actions. But in a free society, we don&rsquo;t punish protected speech.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration argues that ICE trackers exist to endanger law enforcement and has framed them as a direct threat to federal agents, suggesting that, as such, they pose a violation of the law.<\/p>\n<p>FIRE believes that the apps are protected under the First Amendment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The First Amendment protects the right to discuss, record, and criticize what law enforcement does in public,&rdquo; the organization said.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy with Apple has largely centered on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3459355\/what-to-know-about-the-ice-tracking-app\/\">ICEBlock<\/a>, which allowed users to report the locations of immigration enforcement officers. In early October 2025, Apple removed the app from its App Store after Bondi said she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3835529\/apple-pulls-ice-tracking-app-doj-request\/\">reached out<\/a> to Apple &ldquo;demanding&rdquo; that the company do so. At the time, Bondi claimed that the app did not fall under protected speech. Noem <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KristiNoem\/status\/1940101932455985177\">said the app<\/a> &ldquo;sure looks like&rdquo; an&nbsp;obstruction of justice and that those guilty of obstruction of justice would &ldquo;be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.&rdquo; And Noem <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3459630\/trump-administration-doj-cnn-ice-tracker-false-reports-iran-prosecute\/\">began working <\/a>with the attorney general to see if the administration could prosecute CNN after the outlet aired <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3458491\/tom-homan-ice-tracking-app-doj-investigation\/\">a segment <\/a>profiling the app.<\/p>\n<p>After the pressure, Apple said it removed ICEBlock and similar apps from the App Store due to &ldquo;information we&rsquo;ve received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated&rdquo; with the app. FIRE&rsquo;s new lawsuit says Eyes Up was among the &ldquo;similar apps&rdquo; removed from Apple&rsquo;s app store. Eyes Up developer Mark Hodges said this week that U.S. citizens &ldquo;have the right to keep each other informed about what our government officials are doing and how they&rsquo;re doing it.&rdquo; ICEBlock&rsquo;s Joshua Aaron responded to his app&rsquo;s removal by expressing concern that Apple was &ldquo;capitulating to an authoritarian regime.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In&nbsp;October 2025, Facebook also removed an account reporting on ICE operations that had over 84,000 members, after Bondi said the Justice Department <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3849759\/facebook-removes-anti-ice-page\/\">asked the social media platform <\/a>to take the page down.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4452581\/ice-director-refuses-apology-renee-good-alex-pretti-domestic-terrorists\/\"><strong>ICE DIRECTOR REFUSES TO APOLOGIZE FOR RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTI BEING CALLED DOMESTIC TERRORISTS&nbsp;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Trump administration&rsquo;s pressure on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ga-poll-watcher-it-expert-non-trump-supporter-affidavit-sudden-surge-of-20000-mail-in-votes-for-biden-in-early-hours-on-nov\/\" title=\"GA Poll Watcher, IT Expert, Non...Trump Supporter Affidavit: Sudden Surge of 20,000 Mail...In...Votes For Biden In Early Hours On Nov\">social media companies<\/a> has triggered scrutiny, including from House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who announced an investigation into the matter earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The coercion and censorship campaign, which ultimately targets the users of ICE-monitoring applications, is a clear effort to silence this Administration&rsquo;s critics,&rdquo; the Maryland Democrat wrote in a letter to the Justice Department.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rights group sues over tech pressure to curb ICE<\/p>\n<p>Want a longer paraphrase or a summary of the full article? I can provide that as well<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2568805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25296700823153.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3813,51639,7976,5894,11458],"class_list":["post-2568804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-immigration","tag-law-2","tag-lawsuits","tag-politics","tag-technology"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP25296700823153.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2568804"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2568808,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2568804\/revisions\/2568808"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2568805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2568804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2568804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2568804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}