That there isn't a free software implementation here is indeed bad. Trying to fight about software liberties at this moment when the apps are being de-facto banned is Just Not the Time.
But absolutely start a project under a permissive license. That's a great idea.
Seems to me like it would be a great opportunity to make a list of subversives, judt by exfiltrating their identity via the "app". Cooperation from the developer is optional.
There's precious little reason to distribute as an app, except for exploiting the user. If all you wanted to do was show things on a map then the web is already well set up for that. In fact the apps are probably just embedding a web browser anyway (haven't checked).
I'm no fan of ICE, but I wouldn't trust these developers either.
> There's precious little reason to distribute as an app, except for exploiting the user.
This is a very Hacker News centric perspective; most of us probably use the browser on our phone for hours every day. But a lot of normal people simply don't - if it isn't an app, they won't really use it. I find it strange, but I've seen this over and over again.
But absolutely start a project under a permissive license. That's a great idea.