evacideSep 2, 2025

This is your regular reminder that if you are developing an app that is supposed to help a vulnerable population, you need to do it WITH CONSIDERABLE INPUT FROM THE PEOPLE YOU ARE TRYING TO PROTECT.

https://micahflee.com/unfortunately-the-iceblock-app-is-activism-theater/

Unfortunately, the ICEBlock app is activism theater

At this summer's HOPE conference, Joshua Aaron spoke about ICEBlock, his iPhone app that allows users to anonymously report ICE sightings within a 5 mile radius, and to get notifications when others report ICE sightings near them. You can see the full talk, and the lively/infuriating Q&A, here,

micahflee
Show threadMark vWSep 2, 2025
@evacide Do empathetic programmers exist? With functioning auditory capability?
Show thread@bmoe has moved
@markvonwahlde @evacide
They do but they suffer greatly and usually are ground down or burned out
Sep 2, 2025 at 6:42pmWeb