Meta removed a Facebook group page on Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Justice intervened in communications. The homepage was allegedly used to “dox and target” agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Chicago. Attorney General Pam Bondi disclosed the removal of the Facebook page in a post on the
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi
A spokesperson for Meta confirmed that the tech giant had removed the Facebook group page, but declined to comment on the size of the group or the specific details that constituted the reason for the removal.
"This group was removed for violating our policy on 'concerted harm,'" a Meta spokesperson said in a statement, also referring to the company's policy on "concerted harm and incitement to commit crime."
Meta's removal follows similar actions by competitors such as Apple and Google: Both companies recently removed apps that could be used to anonymously report the whereabouts of ICE agents and other law enforcement officials.
About two weeks ago, Apple removed the “ICEBlock” app under pressure from Bondi. Bundy said at the time that the app was "designed to put ICE agents at risk while they were just doing their jobs."
Apple said in a statement at the time that it removed the ICEBlock app based on information provided by law enforcement related to alleged "security risks."
The ICEBlock app has not been listed in the Google Play Store, and the company said in October that although it had never been contacted by the Justice Department, it had "removed certain apps for violating company policies."
Joshua Aaron, the developer of the ICEBlock app, criticized both Apple and the White House in an interview and compared his app to navigation apps such as Waze, which allow drivers to report their location to law enforcement to avoid speeding tickets.
"The essence of this is that this administration is taking away the basic constitutional rights that we have in this country, and those in power are bending to the demands of the administration," Aaron said.