Dec 5 (Reuters) - The House Committee on Homeland

Security has asked Google and Apple ( AAPL ) to detail

what steps they are taking to remove mobile applications that

allow users to track federal immigration officers.

In letters sent on Friday to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and

Apple ( AAPL ) head Tim Cook, committee leaders singled out ICEBlock, an

app previously used to monitor U.S. Immigration and Customs

Enforcement agents, saying apps hosted on their app stores risk

"jeopardizing the safety of DHS personnel." Lawmakers requested

a briefing by December 12.

The letters urged Google and Apple ( AAPL ) to ensure these apps

cannot be used to target officers or obstruct lawful immigration

enforcement.

The committee noted that while free speech is protected, it

does not extend to advocacy that incites imminent lawless

action, referencing a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

Google and Apple ( AAPL ) did not respond to Reuters' requests for

comment.

The letters follow concerns that these tools allow users to

anonymously report and track the movements of federal agents,

including those from ICE and Customs and Border Protection.

In October, Google said that ICEBlock was never available on

Google's Play Store and added it had removed similar apps due to

policy violations.

Apple ( AAPL ) also removed ICEBlock and other tracking apps from its

App Store at the time.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the apps "put ICE agents at

risk just for doing their jobs," while Apple ( AAPL ) cited violations of

its policies against content that could harm individuals or

groups. The removals followed a surge in downloads of ICEBlock,

which had more than a million users before being pulled.