I caught wind of the ICEBlock app when it received a ton of media coverage a while ago and took a look at its website. Besides the fact that it’s not open-source, I found this statement on the lack of Android support to be concerning. Concerning because the security statements and even the technical description of how push notifications work seem wholly inaccurate. I’m wondering how other members, who might be more experienced in mobile development than I, feel about this app because at the moment I am suspicious of the developer.
Oh - interesting. It’s out of my technical depth as well, but I share your wariness of the privacy concerns they express over using push notifications on Android. For example… I’m running Signal on a phone without Google Play services so if nothing else, it seems to be omitting some obvious options for push notifications that bypass Google altogether.
Ah, there was already something published in the Verge about it - ICEBlock isn’t ‘completely anonymous’, but no app is | The Verge
It seems to come down to the developer having a ton of misplaced faith in Apple…
Thanks for the follow up.
Micah Lee has a pretty strong and thought out response to the developer’s assertions about the app: Unfortunately, the ICEBlock app is activism theater
Thanks for raising this here Kevin!
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Micah Lee is always so thoughtful - I really appreciated how generous he is given what sounds like a really frustrating Q and A!
Even with anonymity, this app is causing more havoc than helping. None of the sightings are actually verified. And there are accounts of MAGA corrupting it with fake info.
Please use an established RRN rather than these apps.