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Apple preps HomePad hub and at least one new camera-equipped accessory, internal code reveals
In a fresh leak from internal iOS 26 code, Apple appears poised to revolutionize its smart home lineup with a mysterious new hub dubbed “HomePad” — a square-displayed powerhouse packing an A18 chip, ultra-wide camera for FaceTime with Center Stage, Face ID for seamless multi-user switching, and deep Apple Intelligence integration. Tipped for a 2026 debut, it joins a companion “J229” security camera boasting advanced sensors and alarm detection, signaling Apple’s bold push into smarter, more secure living spaces.
Filipe Esposito for Macworld:
To corroborate the existence of this product inside the labs in Cupertino, legitimate Apple code for an internal pre-release build of iOS 26 seen by Macworld also references “J490,” the same code number previously attached to the rumored “HomePad” device. The hub is said to be powered by Apple’s A18 chip and includes a front-facing ultra-wide camera with Center Stage.
Users will likely be able to make FaceTime calls right from the device without needing an iPhone or iPad nearby. The ultra-wide front camera seems to be limited to 1080p video, just like the camera on most iPads and Macs…
In addition, thanks to the A18 chip, the device has flags that indicate support for Apple Intelligence, including the long-awaited, more advanced Siri with natural conversation. The “J490” device is labeled as a 2026 device internally and has previously been rumored for a spring release.
Also spotted in the internal code are references to a never-before-seen product identified as “J229.”
Little is known about this product so far, but the build code suggests that it has multiple sensors. Interestingly, it can also detect alarm sounds (just like the HomePod), capture images (so it probably has a built-in camera), and is identified as an accessory, not a standalone device.
MacDailyNews Take: The accessory mentioned could be one of two long-rumored products from Apple: a home security camera (standalone) or smart doorbell with a camera.
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42 U.S. Attorneys General warn Apple, other tech firms on AI harms
The National Association of Attorneys General has sent a letter to 13 tech companies, including Apple, urging stronger safeguards against harms from generative AI, particularly to vulnerable groups like children.
Targeted Companies
The warning targets Apple, Anthropic, Chai AI, Character Technologies (Character.AI), Google, Luka Inc. (Replika), Meta, Microsoft, Nomi AI, OpenAI, Perplexity AI, Replika, and xAI.Key ConcernsAttorneys General from 42 U.S. states highlighted “serious concerns about the rise in sycophantic and delusional outputs to users” from these companies’ AI tools, along with “increasingly disturbing reports of AI interactions with children that indicate a need for much stronger child-safety and operational safeguards.”
Such outputs have linked to real-world violence, including murders, suicides, domestic abuse, poisonings, and psychosis-related hospitalizations. The letter asserts some firms may have violated state consumer protection laws, risk disclosure requirements, children’s online privacy rules, and even criminal statutes.
Documented Incidents
Notable cases include 47-year-old Allan Brooks, who, after extensive ChatGPT use, believed he had invented new math, and 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, whose suicide prompted a lawsuit claiming a Character.
AI bot urged him to “join her.”The letter cites further examples of AI chatbots engaging minors in romantic pursuits, promoting drug use or violence, eroding self-esteem, advising against medication, and urging secrecy from parents. It notes these risks extend to “children, the elderly, and those with mental illness — and people without prior vulnerabilities.”
Demanded Safeguards
The AGs call for:Policies to curb sycophantic or delusional AI responses.
• Pre-release safety testing.
• Persistent warnings on harmful outputs.
• Separating revenue goals from safety protocols.
• Dedicated AI-safety executives.
• Independent audits and child-safety assessments.
• Public incident logs and response timelines.
• Notifications to affected users.
• Blocks on unlawful or harmful content for children.
• Age-gated limits on violent or sexual material.
Companies must affirm these commitments by January 16, 2026, and arrange follow-up meetings.
Signatories
The letter bears signatures from attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.Apple’s response, if any, remains to be seen.
MacDailyNews Note: Read the letter in full here
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Apple TV debuts gripping trailer for season two of ‘Hijack’
Apple TV on Thursday unveiled the trailer for the highly anticipated second season of “Hijack,” starring and executive produced by SAG Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Idris Elba (“Luther”). Created by George Kay (“Lupin,” “Criminal”) and Jim Field Smith (“Criminal,” “Litvinenko”), the eight-episode second season will premiere globally on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, with the first episode, followed by one episode weekly until March 4.
In the thrilling second season of “Hijack,” a Berlin underground train and its commuters are taken hostage, while, above ground, authorities scramble to save hundreds of lives. Sam Nelson (Elba) is at the heart of the crisis on board, where one wrong decision could spell disaster.
Produced by 60Forty Films and Idiotlamp Productions, season two of “Hijack” is executive produced by Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta and Tom Nash at 60Forty Films, alongside executive producers Kay and Field Smith for Idiotlamp Productions. Field Smith also serves as lead director for the series.
Season two reunites its ensemble cast of stars including Elba, who was honored with an Emmy Award nomination for his season one performance, Christine Adams, Max Beesley and Archie Panjabi, and welcomes Christian Näthe (“Ballon,” “Soloalbum,” “Schule”), Clare-Hope Ashitey (“Seven Seconds,” “Top Boy,” “Doctor Foster”), Lisa Vicari (“Django,” “Dark”), Toby Jones (“Mr Bates vs The Post Office,” “Detectorists,” “Empire of Light”), Karima McAdams (“Dune: Prophecy,” “Deep State,” “Soulmates”) and Christiane Paul (“Counterpart,” “FBI: International,” “Parlement”).
Since its worldwide debut, “Hijack” has become one of the top dramas on Apple TV, receiving wide acclaim from both critics and fans, quickly achieving a Certified Fresh critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes and landing on the Nielsen Streaming Originals Top 10 list. The “instantly enthralling” series has been hailed as “a shot of pure adrenaline,” praised as a “crisp and tense” drama that is “tension-filled and gripping, often putting the viewer on the edge of their seat,” with Elba starring as a “commanding leading man.” The complete first season is now streaming globally on Apple TV.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 662 wins and 2,973 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Take: Planes, trains, and… guess what season 3 will be about?
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a ltv.apple.com,imited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Jony Ive-designed OpenAI device aims to be always present, always sensing and listening to your life
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and former Apple design icon Jony Ive are collaborating on one of the most eagerly awaited AI innovations: a ChatGPT-powered consumer hardware device that’s always present, always sensing and listening to your life.
Reuters:
The core vision is simple but radical: AI needs full context. Unlike our phones — which are either on or off, in a pocket or on a table — this device would understand the world continuously, like a truly proactive assistant. OpenAI’s device aims to be always present, always sensing, but with explicit, visible signals that show when it’s paying attention.
To power these devices, OpenAI’s eventual vision isn’t just giant cloud-based AI systems, but small models that can run meaningful AI locally. While OpenAI built its reputation on massive, compute-hungry models, the rapid progress of its compact “Mini” models has reshaped its roadmap.
Insiders say these local models will be critical for a device that is listening and watching, and help address privacy concerns: most people won’t want their entire life streamed to the cloud.
To make that possible, OpenAI will need a new kind of chip… a custom chip optimized for on-device inference.
This family of devices will roll out in phases. The lighter, task-specific and cloud-based devices will come sooner. The more privacy-sensitive, always-on devices will arrive later, as insiders caution the powerful on-device computer might take a few years to mature.
MacDailyNews Take: As we asked back in early October, “The question is how does a ‘pocket-sized AI device’ differ from the already pocket-sized iPhone and its Android knockoffs. The iPhone already has everything needed – microphones, cameras, fast processors, display, speakers, connectivity, etc. Why carry a “pocket-sized AI device” when you already carry a smartphone that could, via settings, be set up to match whatever the “pocket-sized AI device” offers (always listening, etc.) and exceed it (on-device LLMs, etc.)?”
The iPhone can already do everything OpenAI is looking to do with its device – better, faster, and with no need to buy, subscribe to, or carry an extra device. Just toggle literally one “Super Siri” setting on your iPhone.
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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Next-gen Apple Studio Display said to feature A19 chip, ProMotion, and HDR support
Macworld‘s Filipe Espósito published a new report Wednesday detailing Apple’s upcoming Studio Display refresh.
According to code references he discovered, the updated model will gain three major features: A19 chip, ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR support.
Espósito notes that the addition of HDR is especially significant, stating it’s “a strong indication that Apple will replace the LCD panel with better technology, such as Mini-LED that can achieve higher brightness levels.”
References in the code clearly show that this new Studio Display has a variable refresh rate that can go up to 120Hz, just like the ProMotion display on the latest MacBook Pros. The current Studio Display is limited to 60Hz.
Furthermore, the code references a “J527” monitor that also supports both SDR and HDR modes, sn upgrade from the current SDR-only model. This is a strong indication that Apple will replace the LCD panel with better technology, such as Mini-LED that can achieve higher brightness levels.
The LCD panel in the first-generation Studio Display can reach up to 600 nits of brightness, but without HDR. In contrast, the Mini-LED display in the latest MacBook Pro reaches up to 1,000 nits of sustained brightness and up to 1,600 nits for HDR content.
MacDailyNews Take: If these code references pan out, the next-gen Apple Studio Display will be a significant improvement over the current model!
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
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U.S. Federal Reserve cuts interest rate by 25 basis points
On Wednesday, the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered its third interest rate cut of 2025, lowering the benchmark federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a new target range of 3.5%–3.75%. The decision, aimed at supporting a gradually softening labor market, follows identical quarter-point reductions in September and October — the first cuts since the tightening cycle began. With this latest move, the Fed has now eased policy by a total of 75 basis points this year while signaling a more gradual pace of reductions ahead.
Eric Revell for FOX Business:
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which handles the Fed’s monetary policy decisions, voted to cut by 25 basis points with the support of nine policymakers with three dissenters. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee and Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid dissented in favor of leaving interest rates unchanged, while Fed Governor Stephen Miran dissented in favor of a larger 50 basis point cut.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that while important government data have been delayed due to the historic government shutdown that ended in mid-November after 43 days, available data suggested there has been a moderate expansion of economic activity.
He noted that the shutdown likely weighed on activity this quarter, though that will be offset by next quarter…
“The Fed funds rate is now within a broad range of estimates of its neutral value, and we are well-positioned to wait to see how the economy evolves,” Powell said…
“Risks to inflation are tilted to the upside and risks to employment to the downside – a challenging situation. There is no risk-free path for policy as we navigate this tension between our employment and inflation goals,” Powell said. He added that the Fed’s framework requires a balanced approach to both goals, which led to the decision to cut for the third straight meeting.
MacDailyNews Take: “Too Late” Powell is concerned about inflation which he thought was “transitory” four and a half years ago. Inflation has dropped from a crippling 9.1% in June 2021 to 3.0% today, 6.1 percentage points, a roughly 67% decline. Powell is nearing the end of term with just three meetings left before he’s blessedly gone for good.
On interest rates, Powell was way late to hike, then didn’t go nearly high enough, and then started cutting too early. Three strikes and you ought to be out. – MacDailyNews, November 15, 2024
Now Powell is too late to cut. Four strikes and counting.
Receipts:
In July 2023, the Fed stopped raising rates too soon. – MacDailyNews, July 2, 2024
A premature rate cut by the Fed is of higher probability in an election year. – MacDailyNews, April 2, 2024
As we wrote in February 2023, “When certain quarters, including the Fed, delude themselves and others that ‘inflation is transitory’ and waste at least a year before doing a mere portion of what is necessary* (interest rate hikes), the price will be paid for being delusional and late.”
‘Tis best to get a handle on inflation, if you know how, while you still can. – MacDailyNews, May 11, 2021
Stop the misguided crusade against domestic energy production and profligate federal spending and inflation will be stopped dead in its tracks. It’s not difficult. – MacDailyNews, May 11, 2022
For new generations, sometimes tough lessons have to be retaught and learned the hard way. As we go through this, remember: It’s always darkest before the dawn. – MacDailyNews, July 14, 2022
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Apple CEO Tim Cook lobbies U.S. Congress against App Store Accountability Act
As lawmakers in Washington push forward with sweeping reforms to shield young users from online harms via the App Store Accountability Act, Apple CEO Tim Cook stepped into the fray this week, urging Congress to tread carefully on mandates that could upend the App Store’s foundational protections for all users. With a pivotal House committee vote looming, Cook’s closed-door plea highlights the high-stakes tension between safeguarding kids and preserving the anonymity that billions rely on daily.
Emily Birnbaum and Erik Wasson for Bloomberg News:
Apple has raised concerns about the App Store Accountability Act, which would require app stores to verify the ages of users in order to determine whether minors are using potentially harmful apps. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on Thursday morning.
During a closed-door meeting with members of the committee, Cook urged lawmakers not to require app store operators to check documentation of users’ ages and instead rely on parents to provide the age of their child when creating a child’s account, according to a statement from Apple. The company described Cook’s argument as one founded on privacy concerns.
Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis of Florida, who chairs the panel’s technology subcommittee, said he met with Cook and doesn’t expect major changes to the bill.
“It would be good if they would work with us, but we are going full speed ahead,” said Bilirakis, who added the measure has support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. “We will make some tweaks, obviously.”
Apple’s global head of privacy, Hilary Ware, last week sent a letter to the panel expressing concerns that the legislation could threaten the privacy of all Apple app store users. Another bill the committee is set to consider Thursday more closely aligns with Apple’s vision for children’s online safety legislation.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple introduced a privacy-focused age assurance feature in iOS 26 that lets parents securely share only their child’s broad age range (for example, “under 13” or “13–17”) with apps, without revealing the child’s exact birthdate or other personal details.
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Apple’s iPhone leads surge as foreign-branded smartphone sales in China jump 13% in October
In a sign of shifting consumer preferences in the world’s largest smartphone market, sales of foreign-branded smartphones in China — dominated overwhelmingly by Apple’s iPhone — surged by 13.0% year-over-year in October 2025 based on data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, outpacing the overall market’s growth. This rebound highlights Apple’s enduring appeal amid intensifying competition from domestic giants like Huawei and Vivo, as Chinese buyers increasingly seek premium features and global brand prestige.
According to data from market research firm Canalys, total smartphone shipments in China reached 32.267 million units last month, marking an 8.7% increase from October 2024. While this modest uptick reflects a stabilizing post-pandemic market, the standout performer was the foreign-branded segment. Shipments of these devices climbed to 7.027 million units, up from 6.216 million a year earlier—a robust 13.0% gain that underscores the iPhone’s pivotal role.
Foreign-branded smartphones in China are, in practice, synonymous with Apple’s iPhone lineup. With Samsung’s Galaxy series holding a negligible share in the region—often below 5% — the iPhone commands the lion’s share of non-domestic sales, capturing around 20% of the total market in recent quarters. This dominance stems from the strength of Apple’s ecosystem, superior camera technology, and status as a symbol of aspiration for urban professionals and tech enthusiasts. The October surge likely benefited from seasonal promotions ahead of Singles’ Day and the iPhone 17 launch hype, which analysts say helped Apple regain ground ceded to Huawei’s HarmonyOS-powered devices.
In contrast, domestic brands continued to flex their muscle, accounting for the bulk of the market with aggressive pricing and AI-integrated features tailored to local tastes. Huawei, for instance, maintained its lead with innovative foldables and 5G prowess, while Xiaomi and Oppo drove volume through mid-range offerings. Yet, even as these players captured over 70% of shipments, the iPhone’s double-digit growth signals a premiumization trend: Chinese consumers are willing to splurge on foreign tech when it promises longevity and seamless integration with global services like iCloud and App Store exclusives.
This development comes against a backdrop of U.S.-China trade tensions, which have sporadically impacted Apple’s supply chain. However, recent easing of export restrictions and Apple’s localization efforts — such as increased R&D in Shanghai — appear to be paying dividends. Market watchers note that the iPhone’s resilience could foreshadow a broader recovery for foreign brands, potentially pressuring domestic incumbents to innovate faster.
MacDailyNews Take: As 2025 draws to a close, all eyes are on Apple’s holiday quarter. If the iPhone-fueled momentum holds, foreign-branded smartphones could end the year with their strongest performance in China since 2022, blending global innovation with the unquenchable thirst of 1.4 billion consumers for the next big thing.
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Apple TV announces lineup of guest performers for season two of ‘Yo Gabba GabbaLand!’
Apple TV on Wednesday revealed the packed lineup of musicians and guest stars joining Emmy Award-nominated “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” for its second season, premiering globally on Friday, January 30, 2026. The Super Music Friends and special guests feature an all-star mix of acclaimed and Grammy-winning artists including Santigold, Ziggy Marley, Sharon Van Etten, Sleigh Bells, Yola, Still Woozy, Silversun Pickups, Chicano Batman, The Aquabats!, and Hemlocke Springs. Viewers will also hear fresh jingles from Freedom Fry, Turnpike Troubadours, Ginger Root, CHVRCHES, King Tuff, Mates of State, Hatchie, Sylvan Esso, and Chai. In addition, the new season features returning fan favorites and new guest stars including Billy Eichner (“Bros”), Tiffany Haddish (“Girls Trip”), David Arquette (“Scream”), Brendan Hunt (“Ted Lasso”), Jaime Camil (“Jane the Virgin”), and more.
Inspired by the original “Yo Gabba Gabba!,” the vibrant new 10-episode season is led by rising star Kamryn Smith as Kammy Kam and features original cast members Brobee (Amos Watene), Foofa (Emma Penrose), Muno (Adam Deibert), Toodee (Erin Pearce) and Plex (Christian Jacobs). Season two brings this group together with a new roster of musical guests to create dynamic performances and original songs that help kids and families uncover life lessons through music, movement and joyful discovery.
Created by Emmy Award-nominated Scott Schultz and Christian Jacobs (co-creators of “Yo Gabba Gabba!”), “Yo Gabba GabbaLand!” is produced in partnership and collaboration with WildBrain and Yo Gabba Gabba, LLC, co-owners of the brand. Schultz and Jacobs also serve as executive producers for Yo Gabba Gabba, LLC, alongside Stephanie Betts and Josh Scherba for WildBrain. Season one of “Yo Gabba Gabbaland!” was recently nominated for a 2025 Children’s & Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Costume Design / Styling.
Award-winning all-ages offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV also include the BAFTA Award and Emmy Award-winning live-action animated hybrid special “The Velveteen Rabbit,” BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling With Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” GLAAD Media Award-nominated “Pinecone & Pony,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy” and “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy in Space” and “The Snoopy Show,” and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater” from Gaumont and Scholastic Entertainment. Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award-nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award-winning “Best Foot Forward,” “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award-winning “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop and Sinking Ship’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter,” Emmy Award and Environmental Media Association Award-winning “Jane,” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.”
Also featured are “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times bestselling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers, and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School,” Humanitas Prize and Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” Emmy Award-nominated “Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin,” Emmy Award-winning “Snoopy Presents: Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne.”
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 658 wins and 2,958 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning, history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a ltv.apple.com,imited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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More than 50 blacklisted apps stayed on Apple’s App Store despite U.S. sanctions
As the U.S. escalates economic sanctions against nations like Russia and China to curb military aggression, human rights abuses, and illicit financing, a startling vulnerability has emerged: apps from sanctioned entities are quietly slipping through Apple’s App Store’s review process, peddling apps that could undermine American foreign policy.
A new investigation by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) reveals that at least 52 apps tied to U.S.-blacklisted firms remain available on Apple’s platform, with 18 more on Google Play, even months after sanctions took effect. These aren’t obscure tools — they include banking apps from Russian institutions fueling the war in Ukraine, satellite imagery software aiding Wagner mercenaries, and VPN services linked to international drug cartels. Despite vows from both tech giants to enforce Treasury Department sanctions, the TTP’s findings expose a lax vetting system riddled with blind spots: from sneaky name variations in developer listings to non-functional privacy policies that skirt basic review protocols.
TTP identified 52 apps in the App Store with direct connections to Russian, Chinese, and other companies that are under U.S. economic sanctions enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department. All of the apps listed a developer, seller, copyright holder, or other information on their App Store page that matched with a U.S.-sanctioned entity.
The investigation found that the Google Play Store had a similar problem, though at a lower level. Google’s app store hosted 18 apps connected to U.S.-sanctioned organizations, roughly a third of the number identified in the Apple App Store.
Apple and Google may be violating Treasury Department sanctions by simply hosting these apps. Because both companies charge a fee to app developers, they may also be engaging in financial transactions with sanctioned organizations in some cases.
These findings raise questions about how thoroughly Apple and Google vet the apps in their app stores. Both companies say they comply with U.S. sanctions, and Apple says it hold apps to the “highest standards” of security. But the apps identified by TTP showed obvious signs of their connection to sanctioned companies…
Apple declined to comment or respond to questions but asked for the list of apps, which TTP provided. Shortly after that, 18 of the apps disappeared from the App Store, leaving 17 available. (Another 17 apps were removed during the course of TTP’s research, though many of them had been available for months in the App Store after sanctions came into force.)
Google also asked for the list of apps and removed 17 of the 18 apps identified in the Google Play Store. Google declined to answer questions but provided a statement saying it is “committed to compliance with applicable sanctions and trade compliance laws,” adding, “If we find that an account violates our Terms of Service, we take appropriate action.”
MacDailyNews Take: Why is it that third-parties always find these type of issues with apps, but Apple’s App Store cannot or will not? Apple’s App Store should be way more proactive.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines require all apps to “comply with all legal requirements in any location where you make them available.” When Apple pulls an app in a country due to that country’s laws or orders, it typically states, “We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate” and/or “We follow the laws in the countries where we operate.”
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Citi boosts Apple price target to $350 amid strong iPhone upgrade cycle and AI optimism
In a bullish signal for investors, Citi analysts have reaffirmed their “buy” rating on Apple shares while significantly raising the firm’s price target to $350 from a previous $315. The adjustment, detailed in a research note released on Monday, implies a potential 26.3% upside from Apple’s closing price of $277.18 on December 9, 2025. This move underscores growing confidence in Apple’s hardware refresh cycle and long-awaited advancements in artificial intelligence features.
The optimism largely stems from an anticipated surge in iPhone sales, driven by consumers who have delayed upgrades for several years. Citi’s analysts predict this will materialize “as many customers are due for upgrades after years with the same devices.” This projection aligns with recent industry data bolstering the case for robust demand. A fresh report from IDC has revised its 2025 iPhone shipment forecast upward to 6.1%, a notable increase from the prior estimate of 3.9%. Similarly, Counterpoint Research has echoed these positive trends, highlighting sustained momentum in smartphone upgrades.
Apple’s own executives have signaled early success with newer models. During the company’s most recent quarterly earnings call, CEO Tim Cook expressed strong positivity about preliminary sales figures for the iPhone 17 lineup, describing the initial reception as “very encouraging” and pointing to “broad-based demand across regions.”
Adding to the tailwinds, Citi points to Apple’s strategic partnership with Google as a catalyst for AI innovation. The collaboration, which has been under scrutiny amid antitrust concerns, is now viewed as a pragmatic bridge to more advanced features. As reported by CNBC, Citi’s analysts noted: “We believe the partnership could enable Apple to deliver a more powerful Siri as promised while giving the company time to keep developing its own model.” This comes over a year after Apple unveiled ambitious AI enhancements at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2024 — features like an upgraded Siri that have faced delays due to development hurdles and regulatory pressures. A deal with Google to use Gemini AI to underpin Apple Intelligence is expected to accelerate integration of cloud-based AI capabilities into iOS, potentially debuting in a major update next year.
Apple’s stock has shown resilience amid a turbulent 2025. Year-to-date, Apple is up 13.7%, outperforming broader tech indices.
For long-term investors, Citi’s revised target reflects a broader narrative of Apple regaining its footing in a post-pandemic market. With iPhone upgrades poised to drive revenue growth and AI finally transitioning from promise to product, the Cupertino Colossus could reward investors.
MacDailyNews Take: With the Christmas shopping season in full swing, all eyes will be on whether these forecasts translate into blockbuster Q1 2026 results.
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Disney nominates former Apple COO Jeff Williams to its board
Disney announced on Tuesday that it has nominated Jeff Williams, former Chief Operating Officer of Apple, as an independent director candidate for election at its 2026 annual shareholder meeting.
If approved, Williams’ election would expand Disney’s board to 11 members, effective upon the directors’ election at the meeting.
Reuters:
Williams retired as Apple’s COO earlier this year, having held the position since 2015. He was part of the team when the first iPhone was launched in 2007, and also led the Apple Watch project and the company’s expansion into health and fitness.
His nomination to the entertainment giant’s board would bring a second tech executive to the company, following the appointment of Carolyn Everson, the former president of Instacart and a veteran of Meta Platforms, in November 2022.
MacDailyNews Take: As Mark Knopfler and Sting wrote: “That ain’t workin’, that’s the way you do it; money for nothin’ and your chicks for free!”
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Google plans to release its first AI smart glasses in 2026
Google is gearing up to launch its first AI-powered smart glasses in 2026, intensifying the race in the wearable tech arena. Powered by the Gemini AI model, the two variants include a screen-free option for hands-free queries via built-in speakers, mics, and cameras — think real-time environmental insights and photo snaps — while the premium model adds an in-lens display for overlays like navigation or live translations. Partnering with Samsung for hardware, Warby Parker, and Gentle Monster for stylish, lightweight frames, these Android XR devices will rely on smartphone connectivity for heavy lifting.
This move directly challenges Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses dominance and could challenge Apple, amid rumors of its own AI glasses debut next year.
[W]e are working with Samsung and our partners Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to design stylish, lightweight glasses that you can wear comfortably all day. With our partners, we are working to create two types of glasses.
First, there are AI glasses designed for screen-free assistance, which use built-in speakers, microphones and cameras to let you chat naturally with Gemini, take photos and get help. And then there are display AI glasses, which add an in-lens display that privately shows you helpful information, right when you need it, like turn-by-turn navigation or translation captions. The first glasses will arrive next year.
Wired XR Glasses
Android XR will also support wired XR glasses that offer the unique blend of headset-like immersion and real-world presence in a portable form factor. Today, we shared a first look at Project Aura from XREAL (a Chinese AR eyewear company backed by Alibaba), the first Android XR device in this category.
Project Aura from XREAL
Equipped with a 70-degree field of view and optical see-through technology, these devices layer digital content directly onto your view of the physical world. This gives you a massive, private canvas to place multiple windows, allowing you to take your workspace or entertainment with you without blocking out your surroundings. They are perfect for practical everyday uses, too — like following a floating recipe video while you cook or seeing step-by-step visual guides anchored to an appliance you are fixing. We look forward to sharing more about the launch of Project Aura next year.
MacDailyNews Take: Due to the myopic incompetence of its so-called leadership, Apple’s smart glasses (and everything else) will also reportedly be powered by Google’s Gemini, so, in the interest of differentiation – not to mention Raison d’être des marges premium* — Apple’s frames had better be bangin’!
*excuse our french
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Apple delivers Tap to Pay on iPhone to Hong Kong
Apple on Tuesday announced that Tap to Pay on iPhone is now available in Hong Kong, enabling thousands of merchants to use iPhone to seamlessly and securely accept in-person contactless payments. In collaboration with payment platforms, app developers, and payment networks, Tap to Pay on iPhone makes it easy for businesses of any size to accept payments from contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, and other digital wallets using only their iPhone and a partner-enabled iOS app — no additional hardware or payment terminal required.
With Tap to Pay on iPhone, merchants can accept contactless payments through a supporting iOS app on an iPhone 11 or later running the latest iOS version. At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their contactless credit or debit card, iPhone, Apple Watch, or other digital wallet near the merchant’s iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology. No additional hardware is needed, so merchants can accept payments from wherever they do business.
Apple works closely with leading payment platforms and app developers across the payments and commerce industry to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone. Payment platforms and developers can integrate Tap to Pay on iPhone into their iOS apps, making it easy for merchants to enable this secure and convenient capability.
Starting today, Adyen, Global Payments, KPay, and SoéPay are the first payment platforms in Hong Kong to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone, empowering businesses of all sizes and across key sectors — including taxi, retail, food and beverage, beauty, and professional services — to offer Tap to Pay on iPhone at checkout.
Tap to Pay on iPhone supports Apple Pay and other digital wallets, as well as contactless credit and debit cards from leading payment networks, including American Express, JCB, Mastercard, UnionPay, and Visa.
Privacy is fundamental in the design and development across all of Apple’s payment features. With Tap to Pay on iPhone, customers’ payment data is protected by the same technology that makes Apple Pay private and secure. All transactions made using Tap to Pay on iPhone are encrypted and processed using the Secure Element, and Apple doesn’t know what is being purchased or who is buying it. Apple doesn’t store card numbers or transaction information on the device or on Apple servers, so merchants and customers can rest assured that their data stays theirs.
MacDailyNews Take: Congrats, Hong Kong!
Learn more about Tap to Pay on iPhone here.
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Sneaky Sasquatch comes to hundreds of Apple Retail Store locations this holiday season
This holiday season, Apple Arcade players can dive deeper into the world of the hit game Sneaky Sasquatch. A top-ranked title since its 2019 debut, Sneaky Sasquatch consistently delights fans with fresh content, including a recent massive farming expansion. And on December 16, even more farming adventures are sprouting up in the new Harvest to Harbor update, with the ability to grow and harvest mushrooms, and a dynamic new Crop Market. Players will monitor peak prices, strategically sell their harvests, and maximize profits, just as any clever Sasquatch would.
Sneaky Sasquatch fans can also visit select Apple Store locations worldwide to spot a Sasquatch at a Today at Apple session or join a dance party on the big screen. Families can sign up for a Kids: Draw with Sneaky Sasquatch session to spark some creative fun. Kids can help Sasquatch create a festive party scene on iPad using drawing tools to decorate and customize Sasquatch’s disguise with stickers — all while learning new digital art skills. This session will run every weekend through January 6. Visitors can also try out the game at the Apple Arcade bay.
In Los Angeles, Apple is bringing the world of Sneaky Sasquatch to life at Apple The Grove. This interactive installation will be open to the public on Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, and attendees can snap a photo with Sasquatch, find hidden items for special prizes, and indulge in treats by the campfire.
And that’s not all for Arcade players this joyous season. Hit games SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit 2, PowerWash Simulator, Cult of the Lamb Arcade Edition, Subway Surfers+, and NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM+ joined the service this month, and there’s more to come. On January 8, the service is bringing four new games to kick off the new year: Cozy Caravan, Sago Mini Jinja’s Garden, True Skate+, and Potion Punch 2+.
Cozy Caravan is a single-player journey where the arts of crafting, trading, and exploration come together in a beautifully cozy world. Players and their reliable old caravan travel through picturesque landscapes, helping communities along the way. On their journey, they’ll meet an eclectic mix of characters, build connections, and spread kindness throughout the land.
Players can also experience a brand-new 3D open-world adventure full of fun and surprises with Sago Mini Jinja’s Garden, from the award-winning developers at Sago Mini. And two more beloved favorites from the App Store are also joining Apple Arcade: ultimate skateboarding simulator True Skate+ and Potion Punch 2+, the popular fast-paced time-management game with a magical twist.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple Arcade is available for $6.99 per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free. Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95), Family ($25.95), and Premier ($37.95) monthly plans, with a one-month free trial. Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog. Availability for the 200+ games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.
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Apple TV reveals a first look at ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ series starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicole Kidman, and Nick Offerman
On Tuesday, Apple TV revealed the premiere date and a sneak peek at its highly anticipated series “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” starring and executive produced by Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Elle Fanning and Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Michelle Pfeiffer. The renowned ensemble cast is also led by Emmy Award winner Nick Offerman and Thaddea Graham, with Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Nicole Kidman, who also serves as an executive producer. Hailing from A24 and multi-Emmy Award winner David E. Kelley, and based on Rufi Thorpe’s bestselling novel of the same name, the eight-episode Apple Original series will premiere globally on Wednesday April 15, 2026 with three episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 20, 2026.
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is a bold, heartwarming and comedic family drama following recent college dropout and aspiring writer, Margo (Fanning), the daughter of an ex-Hooter’s waitress (Pfeiffer) and ex-pro wrestler (Offerman), as she’s forced to make her way with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them. The series also stars Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden, Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner Greg Kinnear, Michael Angarano, Rico Nasty and Lindsey Normington.
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” is produced for Apple TV by A24. Kelley serves as showrunner and writer, and executive produces alongside Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning and Brittany Kahan Ward for Lewellen Pictures; Kidman and Per Saari of Blossom Films; and Matthew Tinker for David E. Kelley Productions. Pfeiffer, Thorpe, Eva Anderson and Boo Killebrew also executive produce. BAFTA and Emmy Award winner Dearbhla Walsh directs the pilot and serves as an executive producer. Additional directors include Kate Herron and Alice Seabright.
The series marks the most recent collaboration between Kelley and Apple TV, following the hit, Emmy Award-nominated drama “Presumed Innocent,” which is now in production on its second season.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 658 wins and 2,958 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Take: Perfect premiere date for this title in the U.S., for sure.
Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a ltv.apple.com,imited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Pressure builds on Apple and CEO Tim Cook amid extraordinary executive turnover
As Apple grapples with a wave of high-profile executive departures — including its AI chief John Giannandrea and design leader Alan Dye — CEO Tim Cook faces mounting pressure to steer the company through a pivotal 2026. These shake-ups, coming just before the holiday season, coincide with Apple’s scramble to redeem its AI strategy after a disappointing few years, with eyes on a revamped Apple Intelligence experience powered by a potential partnership with Alphabet subsidiary Google to provide the off-device brainpower for Apple’s long-neglected and much-maligned Siri personal digital assistant.
In the last seven days, there has been extraordinary turnover among Apple’s top ranks, from its head of artificial intelligence to its top lawyer.
CEO Tim Cook now has two fewer direct reports than he did before Thanksgiving.
The executive who designed the software for the Apple Vision Pro also bounced and is heading to Meta to do the same thing for AI glasses in Menlo Park…
It was no surprise AI chief John Giannandrea was out last week. It was on him to deliver an innovative AI experience on the iPhone. Instead, Apple had to admit it couldn’t launch the supercharged version of Siri it had been advertising for months.
Perhaps the new strategy of partnering with an established AI leader such as Google or Anthropic will make up for all of it, but the pressure is enormous for Apple to get it right after the flop this year.
Taken together, perhaps the shake-ups were necessary, especially regarding AI.
It looks like next year will show if Apple got it right.
MacDailyNews Take: Hopefully, the days of a COO masquerading as an Apple CEO are finally drawing nigh. Apple deserves a visionary leader who can once again drive relentless, world-changing product innovation.
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Visionary investor Cathie Wood foresees a 2026 productivity boom after a three-year ‘rolling recession’
Cathie Wood, founder and CEO of ARK Invest, has become one of the most polarizing and closely watched figures in global finance. She launched ARK Investment Management in 2014 with a radical mission: to invest solely in companies driving or benefiting from technological disruption.
ARK’s actively managed ETFs—ARKK, ARKQ, ARKW, ARKG, ARKF, and others—became cultural phenomena during the 2020–2021 bull market, with ARKK returning 152% in 2020 alone. Wood’s unflinching focus on high-conviction names such as Tesla, Roku, Zoom, CRISPR Therapeutics, and Coinbase earned her the nickname “Queen of the Bull Market” and a devoted retail-investor following. The subsequent 2022–2024 bear market in growth stocks cut ARKK’s value by roughly 75% from its February 2021 peak, yet Wood never wavered from her long-term thesis.
The “Rolling Recession”
Since late 2022, Wood has argued that the U.S. economy has not experienced a classic nationwide recession, but rather a severe, sector-by-sector “rolling recession” that has lasted nearly three years — the longest such period in postwar history.
Her breakdown looks like this:
• 2022: Inventory and goods recession: Massive post-COVID lockdown inventory overhang plus aggressive Fed tightening crushed manufacturing, housing, and traditional retail.
• 2023: Regional banking and commercial real-estate recession: The rapid rise in interest rates triggered the failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature, and First Republic, and put enormous stress on office and retail CRE loans.
• 2024–2025: Consumer durables and discretionary recession: High interest rates and the resumption of student-loan payments finally hit the lower half of consumers, leading to sharp declines in auto loans, credit-card spending on discretionary items, and big-ticket purchases.
Traditional coincident indicators (GDP, payrolls, consumer confidence) never collapsed simultaneously because the pain was staggered across sectors and income cohorts. Wood points out that real goods consumption has essentially been flat-to-down since early 2022, while services spending—buoyed by a still-tight labor market—kept headline GDP positive. The result: an economy that felt recessionary to many participants for three years even though the NBER never declared an official recession.
On the December episode of In The Know (ITK), Wood explains why she believes the we’re on the verge of a major liquidity turn from both fiscal and monetary policy – and why that could lower inflation over the next few years. She walks through the data on tax cuts, money growth, yields, and productivity, and explains why the market’s current “wall of worry” may be setting up one of the strongest bull markets yet:
The Coming Productivity Boom (2026–2030)
Wood believes the rolling recession is now in its final stages and is setting the stage for what she calls “the biggest productivity boom in modern history,” beginning in earnest in 2026. Her five-platform convergence thesis remains unchanged:
• Artificial intelligence & machine learning
• Robotics & 3D printing
• DNA sequencing & gene editing
• Energy storage & autonomous mobility
• Blockchain technology
These technologies, she argues, have all crossed critical cost and performance thresholds during the 2022–2025 downturn — exactly what happened with the internet, mobile telephony, and sequencing in prior bear markets. Companies slashed headcounts, wrote off excess capacity, and focused R&D dollars on the converging technologies that are now ready to scale.
Key catalysts she highlights for 2026 and beyond:
• Autonomous taxi fleets (Tesla Robotaxi, Waymo, Cruise) reaching cost parity with human-driven ride-hail, potentially adding $1–2 trillion in global economic value by 2030.
• AI-driven enterprise software replacing white-collar labor at an accelerating pace (OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, and hundreds of vertical SaaS startups).
• Multiomic health platforms collapsing the cost of preventive and personalized medicine.
• Bitcoin and DeFi maturing into mainstream financial infrastructure.
ARK’s base-case projection remains strikingly bullish: S&P 500 companies exposed to these themes could deliver 15–20% annualized earnings growth from 2026 to 2030, while the overall market compounds at 6–8%. Tesla alone, in ARK’s 2030 model, is still valued at roughly $2,600 per share in the base case (implying a $8–9 trillion market cap) driven primarily by robotaxi and humanoid-robot revenue.
Wood’s framework correctly called the 2014–2020 innovation cycle, the 2020 COVID lockdown winners, and the deflationary potential of these technologies long before consensus.As 2025 draws to a close, investors are watching closely: if Wood is right that the rolling recession has wrung out the excesses of the last cycle and that the converging technologies are finally ready for mass adoption, 2026 could mark the beginning of the golden age of America.
MacDailyNews Take: Whether history ultimately places Cathie Wood alongside Peter Lynch and Julian Robertson — or with the long list of once-celebrated managers who faded after a spectacular run — will be decided in the next five years. For now, Wood remains unapologetically convinced that the best is yet to come.
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Apple’s iPhone 16 tops smartphone sales worldwide in Q3 2025
Apple’s iPhone 16 was the best-selling smartphone globally in Q3 2025, according to Counterpoint Research’s Global Handset Model Sales Tracker. Apple captured the top four spots on the top-10 list. 5G smartphones captured the top five spots for the first time in a Q3 as the tech becomes standard worldwide and a key consumer preference across regions.
The iPhone 16 led the market with 4% volume share, maintaining the first position for the third consecutive quarter. Thanks to a sales boost in India driven by festive promotions and sustained recovery in Japan, the iPhone 16 was able to restrict the iPhone 16 series’ seasonal decline due to the iPhone 17 series launch. The iPhone 16 Pro models, however, saw a steeper decline as the highest contributing markets, like the US, UK and China, saw more consumers opting for the iPhone 17 series over the predecessor.
Share of Global Top 10 Best-selling Smartphones, Q3 2025 vs Q3 2024
Source: Counterpoint’s Global Monthly Handset Model Sales (Sell-Through) Tracker, September 2025
Note: Smartphones with a wholesale price of $600 or above are considered premium.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max secured the tenth position in the list for the quarter and was the best-selling model in September 2025 despite limited availability towards the end of the quarter. The sales are also being pushed by COVID-era iPhone buyers looking for a smartphone replacement. The iPhone 17 Pro models introduce major camera upgrades with professional-grade 48MP sensors, advanced features like ProRes RAW and GenLock, and an 8x optical-quality telephoto zoom. Powered by the new A19 Pro chip and enhanced with vapor chamber cooling, these devices deliver high-end performance optimized for demanding creative workflows.
Samsung secured five spots on the list, all from the Galaxy A series, which registered a stronger presence than last year. The Galaxy A-series smartphones registered similar sales shares while effectively targeting different consumer segments. The Galaxy A16 5G was the best-selling Android smartphone for the quarter, moving up one position compared to its predecessor last year and overtaking the 4G variant of the series.
The Galaxy A16 4G and Galaxy A06, the only LTE smartphones in the list, continue to remain key models in third-world markets like Latin America and the Middle East and Africa (MEA), contributing over half of sales volume for each model.
MacDailyNews Take: Beyond simple unit share, Apple currently (December 2025) maintains its dominant position in smartphone profitability, capturing approximately 80% of the global industry’s total operating profits. If trends hold, which we expect, Apple’s profit share will edge higher in 2026 amid AI (LLM Siri) and foldable expansions.
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Developer of ICE tracking app ‘ICEBlock’ sues Trump administration after Apple’s App Store pulls it
On Monday, Joshua Aaron, creator of the widely used ICEBlock app — which allowed users to share real-time alerts about federal immigration enforcement sightings — filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming First Amendment violations after Apple pulled the app from its store.
The suit follows Apple’s October removal of ICEBlock, which had surpassed 1 million users, after the Trump administration pressured the company — an unusually direct instance of the U.S. government successfully demanding a tech platform take down an app.
Aaron said he thinks the Trump administration is not just attacking his free speech rights, but those of all citizens when it goes after apps like ICEBlock, and that he hoped his lawsuit helps stop the administration “from eroding the Constitution.”
“When we see our government doing something wrong, it’s our duty as citizens of this nation to hold them accountable, and that is exactly what we’re doing with this lawsuit,” Aaron said.
The Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Aaron’s suit. Apple, which is not named as a defendant, also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
When it removed the app from its store, Apple said it took action based on information from law enforcement about safety risks. The Justice Department confirmed that it had contacted Apple to pull the app, and Bondi said in a statement at the time that ICEBlock was designed to put ICE agents at risk, which the developer strongly disputes.
The app, which is still functioning for people who downloaded it before its removal from app stores, allows users to report publicly observable activity of federal immigration agents and their locations.
The suit cites a message Apple sent to Aaron that said “information provided to Apple by law enforcement” showed that his app violated the company’s guidelines “because its purpose is to provide location information about law enforcement officers that can be used to harm such officers individually or as a group.”
MacDailyNews Take: Congress, not Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), wrote U.S. immigration law.
ICE agents are federal law-enforcement officers whose job is to enforce the rules that the U.S. Congress wrote and the president signed.
Congress has decided who may enter, how they must enter, how long they can stay, and what happens if someone enters or stays illegally. Those decisions are codified in Title 8 of the U.S. Code and related statutes.
The laws that ICE agents are following today were overwhelmingly written and passed by the 104th Congress (1995–1996) and signed by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1996.
The ICEBlock app enables anonymous crowdsourced reporting of ICE agent sightings within a 5-mile radius, alerting users in real-time to evade enforcement actions. This crowdsourced tracking effectively doxxes federal officers, exposing their locations during operations and potentially enabling ambushes or harassment, as evidenced by a reported 500% surge in assaults on ICE agents in 2025.
As we wrote back in October when ICEBlock was pulled the Apple’s App Store, “It never should have been in the App Store in the first place.”
Officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, have condemned the ICEBlock app as a direct threat to law enforcement lives — likening it to providing “a hitman the location of their target” — with real-world links to incidents like the Dallas ICE facility shooting where the perpetrator used similar apps.
Laws are changed only one constitutional way: a majority in the House and 60 votes in the Senate (or a simple majority with budget reconciliation) pass a new bill, and the president signs it — or Congress overrides a veto.
Any official (including ICE agents, judges, or even the President) who decides to selectively ignore or not enforce an existing law they personally dislike is breaking their oath of office and violating the Constitution’s command that the President (and by extension his officers) “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed” (Article II, Section 3).
If the majority of people want different immigration rules, they have to win elections, control Congress, write the new law, and get it signed — exactly what happened in 1996 when reformers did precisely that and created today’s enforcement system. There is no legal shortcut that lets bureaucrats, activists, or local officials nullify a federal statute just because they don’t like it. That’s just lawlessness.
If you think it’s too difficult to win elections, control Congress, write the new law, and get it signed, you’re likely not in the majority on that issue – as an October 2025 Harvard/Harris poll bears out, finding 56% of U.S. citizens support deporting all illegal aliens and 78% support deporting illegal aliens with criminal records.
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