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Apple and Google Remove Hundreds of 'Nudify' Apps

Updated 9:11 AM ET · 8:20 AM ETConfirmedShare via:      

Technology Desk

In Short: Earlier this year, around 38 'nudify' apps were found on the App Store and Play Store, accounting for a combined 483 million downloads and $122 million in revenue.

According to a report by Android Authority, investigators uncovered a network of over 400 apps and websites freely available on Apple’s and Google’s app stores, masquerading as innocent services like language tutoring, AI-based pet photo editing, and workout coaching apps.

Both Apple and Google have already removed a substantial number of the offending apps, according to the report.

These apps reportedly present a standard user interface when downloaded, leaving users with little reason to suspect anything nefarious.

The apps use a sneaky server-side trick to keep the nudifying features hidden, and there is no definitive checklist determining whether a user sees the 'safe' interface or the 'explicit deepfake' version.

Tech Transparency Project (TTP) found dozens of AI nudify apps on the App Store in January, and recently downloaded 135 apps with features to generate nonconsensual nude imagery using test accounts acting as 13-year-olds.

Apple moved its rule against hidden features into a new guideline, 2.5.19, and added language that wasn't in the version TECHi compared from Oct.

Apple’s App Review Guidelines now carry the date October 16, 2026, and the company said its review process blocked more than 150,000 apps from reaching users in the previous year.

Apple said last year its review process blocked over 150,000 apps from reaching users and removed 193,000 developer accounts due to fraud and abuse.

Apps like the fake Chrome browser spotted last month are concerning enough, but Google and Apple have a much bigger, more alarming problem on their hands with 'nudify' apps.

According to Wired, Apple and Google have been ordered to take down apps that can 'nudify' or 'undress' people and told that they must stop profiting from the harmful technology.

The city attorney, whose office previously took legal action against 16 popular deepfake websites, says Apple and Google have likely 'made millions of dollars in fees' from apps that offer nudification, and they should improve their moderation processes to stop them appearing in their stores in the first place.

Sharjah’s Child Safety Organisation has warned that AI image-manipulation tools and so-called 'nudify' apps are being misused to harass, bully, and exploit children.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• According to a report by Android Authority, investigators uncovered a network of over 400 apps and websites freely available on Apple’s and Google’s app stores, masquerading as innocent services like language tutoring, AI-based pet photo editing, and workout coaching apps.
• Both Apple and Google have already removed a substantial number of the offending apps, according to the report.
• These apps reportedly present a standard user interface when downloaded, leaving users with little reason to suspect anything nefarious.
• The apps use a sneaky server-side trick to keep the nudifying features hidden, and there is no definitive checklist determining whether a user sees the 'safe' interface or the 'explicit deepfake' version.
• Tech Transparency Project (TTP) found dozens of AI nudify apps on the App Store in January, and recently downloaded 135 apps with features to generate nonconsensual nude imagery using test accounts acting as 13-year-olds.
• Apple moved its rule against hidden features into a new guideline, 2.5.19, and added language that wasn't in the version TECHi compared from Oct.
• Apple’s App Review Guidelines now carry the date October 16, 2026, and the company said its review process blocked more than 150,000 apps from reaching users in the previous year.
• Apple said last year its review process blocked over 150,000 apps from reaching users and removed 193,000 developer accounts due to fraud and abuse.
• Apps like the fake Chrome browser spotted last month are concerning enough, but Google and Apple have a much bigger, more alarming problem on their hands with 'nudify' apps.
• According to Wired, Apple and Google have been ordered to take down apps that can 'nudify' or 'undress' people and told that they must stop profiting from the harmful technology.
• The city attorney, whose office previously took legal action against 16 popular deepfake websites, says Apple and Google have likely 'made millions of dollars in fees' from apps that offer nudification, and they should improve their moderation processes to stop them appearing in their stores in the first place.
• Sharjah’s Child Safety Organisation has warned that AI image-manipulation tools and so-called 'nudify' apps are being misused to harass, bully, and exploit children.

What's still developing

• Earlier this year, around 38 “nudify” apps were found on the App Store and Play Store, accounting for a combined 483 million downloads and $122 million in revenue.
• Apple called the tactic bait-and-switch, where an app shows App Review one thing and switches on a harmful capability after approval.
• “Apps that host user-generated content are required to filter objectionable material, give users a way to report offensive content, and let users block abusive accounts. Apps containing hidden or undocumented features are also prohibited on the App Store, including apps that misrepresent their purpose during review and only reveal harmful capabilities — such as ‘nudification’ — after approval, a tactic commonly known as bait-and-switch,” the company said in a blog post.
• As part of updates announced Friday, Apple says that developers “must proactively prevent and remove” nonconsensual, sexual images as part of its content moderation requirements for App Store apps.
• The new rules, announced today, aim to prevent developers from hiding harmful features or engaging in 'bait-and-switch' tactics, where apps misrepresent their purpose during the review process and reveal harmful capabilities after approval.
• The “vast majority” of ads promoted AI apps made in China, while many ads promoted so-called “nudify” apps that make it easy for bad actors to use AI and digitally alter images of children.
• A new TTP report published this week finds that these apps are not only still live on the iOS App Store and Google Play, but are being surfaced through the platforms' own recommendation systems, promoted to users as though they were ordinary photo editors or creative tools.
• The changes come after the Grok controversy, where Elon Musk's AI chatbot was used to generate nonconsensual sexualized images of women and minors, prompting calls for Apple to remove the app.
• Guideline 2.5.19 targets apps that show App Review one thing and become something else after approval.

Sources

• Android Authoritylink
• Innovation-Villagelink
• Startupfortunelink
• Techilink
• The Guardianlink
• WIRED Middle Eastlink
• Warpbeatlink
• Androidpurelink
• TechCrunchlink
• WIREDlink
• The Vergelink
• Digitaltrendslink
• Ars Technicalink
• WarpBeat — background on Apple and Google Remove Hundreds of 'Nudify' Apps link
• Wikipedia — background on App Store (Apple) link