Aaron v. Bondi
Overview
Overview
The creator of ICEBlock, a phone app developed so users can report sighting of ICE and federal immigration agents, sued the Justice Department over its allegedly unconstitutional threats and demands against Apple, which pressured it to remove the ICEBlock app from the App Store.
The Issue
Issue
Whether the Department of Justice violated the First Amendment by making unconstitutional threats or demands to Apple to remove the ICEBlock app from the App Store.
The Rules
Rule
The First Amendment protects expressive speech from government suppression, and the government may not use coercive pressure against third parties to accomplish indirectly what it cannot do directly through regulation.
The Application
Analysis
The plaintiff alleges the DOJ pressured Apple through threats and demands to remove an app designed for reporting sightings of ICE and federal immigration agents. If the government intended to suppress this speech through coercion of a third party, it may violate the First Amendment even when direct regulation would be impermissible.
The Conclusion
Conclusion
The case remains active in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before Judge Friedrich, with constitutional claims pending resolution.
Flag an issue
This tracker is maintained by BrynoDC and is free because readers fund it. Support