Maryland scientist targeted by right for alleged creation of ICE tracking app

Tricia Bishop, The Baltimore Sun on Oct 2, 2025

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Political activist and Donald Trump confidante Laura Loomer posted on X Tuesday night that a U.S. Army Research Lab scientist and adjunct instructor is behind an Immigration and Customs Enforcement tracking app called Red Dot, and that he should be investigated and fired.

Such apps have come under fire in the past week after federal officials claimed the gunman who targeted ICE agents in a deadly shooting in Dallas last Wednesday used a similar app to track agents. Several such tracking apps are available in the Apple App Store, claiming to track real-time ICE activity.

“It’s no different than giving a hit man the location of their intended target, and this is exactly what we saw happen in Dallas,” Marcos Charles, an ICE executive associate director, said at a press briefing Thursday, according to Reuters. ICE officers nationwide have been subjected to a 1,000% increase in assaults stoked by “violent rhetoric,” Charles said, adding “it has to stop.”

Red Dot describes itself in the App Store as “a community-driven safety tool that helps protect immigrant communities through real-time ICE activity reporting and alerts.” Its creator is listed as Binary Brains LLC, which Loomer tracked back to the ARL scientist based on Florida business records, which show a Binary Brains, LLC registered to Nicholas Waytowich, who lives in Baltimore and is listed as its CEO.

The Baltimore Sun independently verified the records, though it is unclear if this is the same Binary Brains that developed the app. There are multiple businesses and groups that use Binary Brains in their name.

The Sun left multiple messages for Waytowich on Wednesday morning, via voicemail, email and text, and visited his home. His LinkedIn profile lists him as a machine learning research scientist at the Army Research Lab. Anne Arundel Community College lists him as a part-time faculty member, as does UMBC.

Neither UMBC, AACC nor the Army Research Lab immediately returned The Sun’s requests for comment Wednesday morning.

Loomer, who describes herself as an investigative journalist in her X profile, posted at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday that it is “completely unacceptable for the founder of an ICE tracking app to be employed at the US Army Research Lab, the U.S. Army’s primary foundational research laboratory, responsible for driving scientific discovery and developing innovative technologies to meet the Army’s future operational needs. Not only should Nicholas Waytowich be investigated for endangering the lives of @ICEgov agents, but he should be FIRED from the US Army Research lab.”

By 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, her post had been viewed 1.5 million times and reposted nearly 8,000 times, with multiple individuals adding information about Waytowich.

Loomer has previously run for Congress as a Republican and reportedly has the president’s ear.

“Trump has long praised Loomer while distancing himself at times from her most controversial comments.” the Associated Press wrote in April.

Gene Petrino, a retired SWAT Commander with nearly three decades of law enforcement and security experience and now a security consultant, said apps that reveal ICE operations or tracking information can pose serious risks to officer safety and operational security. These types of tools may expose personnel, sensitive logistics, and enforcement patterns to malicious actors, creating opportunities for harassment or even targeted attacks against officers and their families.

“Maintaining operational integrity is critical to protect both law enforcement staff and the public,” he said.

At the same time, Petrino acknowledged that these apps can provide crucial situational awareness for vulnerable populations, helping individuals avoid unsafe encounters. When used responsibly, these apps can empower communities to stay informed, safeguard civil liberties, and prevent exploitation or discrimination. In this sense, technology can be a valuable tool for enhancing safety and awareness, particularly for those most at risk, according to Petrino.

“Ultimately, technology itself is neutral — its impact depends on how it’s used,” Petrino said. “Balancing law enforcement effectiveness with public protection and civil rights is essential.”

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(Todd Karpovich contributed to this report. Have a news tip? Contact Tricia Bishop at tbishop@baltsun.com.)

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