Fake nude images created with AI have become a serious concern because they can target real people without their consent. AI nudify apps make this easier by allowing users to turn ordinary photos into sexual images. These tools are no longer limited to lesser-known websites. Some have also appeared on major app stores, making them easier to access on smartphones.
In July 2026, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu sent cease-and-desist letters to Apple and Google. He asked them to remove 13 apps that could create sexual images of people without their consent. The city also called on both companies to cut ties with the developers and stop making money from these services.
The move raised questions about how much responsibility tech companies should take for the apps they make available. The issue goes beyond a handful of apps. Apple and Google control two of the world’s biggest mobile app stores. Their review processes decide which apps users can download and which developers can earn money through their platforms.
If apps that enable this kind of abuse can pass those checks. Both companies need to explain what went wrong and how they plan to prevent it from happening again.
ALSO READ: AI Porn Statistics (2025-2030): Key Data, Trends & Facts
San Francisco Questions Apple and Google Over AI Nudify Apps
In July, San Francisco targeted eight apps on Apple’s App Store and five on Google Play. These apps were often listed as face-swapping or photo-editing tools. However, some also let users create fake nude images of people without their consent.
The city accused Apple and Google of making these apps available and earning money from them. It also warned that both companies could face civil penalties if they failed to address the issue.
Money is another key part of the case. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu told WIRED that Apple and Google had likely earned millions of dollars in fees from these apps. Both companies can make money from app downloads, subscriptions and in-app purchases.
Following the city’s action, both companies took steps against the reported apps. Apple said it had removed three apps and was working to close the accounts of some developers. Google confirmed that it had suspended all five apps named in its letter. The company also said it had removed hundreds of apps that violated its policies and restricted related search terms on Google Play.
These steps show that Apple and Google can take action against apps that enable this kind of abuse. However, removing reported apps does not solve the entire problem. Both companies also need to examine how these apps passed their review processes and take steps to stop similar services from appearing again.
AI Nudify Apps Should Not Be Treated as Regular Photo Editors
AI nudify apps can be difficult to identify because their advertised purpose may not reveal what they can actually do. Some are listed as face-swapping tools, photo editors or AI image generators. However, they may also include features that let users create fake sexual images of real people without their consent.
This makes it harder for app stores to catch these apps during the review process. An app’s description and screenshots may not show all its features. Developers may also add new features after approval or hide certain functions until users install the app.
Apple took steps to address this problem in October 2026 by updating its App Store guidelines. The new rules specifically target certain harmful AI content and apps that hide prohibited features to pass the review process. Apple also strengthened its rules for apps that host user-generated content. These include requirements to filter inappropriate material and give users ways to report abuse.
These changes are a positive step, but rules alone are not enough. They will only make a difference if Apple and Google enforce them consistently.
Both companies need to check what an app can actually do instead of relying only on its description. They should review app updates, respond quickly to complaints and take action against developers who repeatedly try to get around their rules.
AI Nudify Apps Can Harm People Without Their Consent
Fake nude images can have serious consequences for the people shown in them. Someone can take an ordinary photo from a public social media account and use an AI tool to turn it into sexual content without the person’s knowledge or permission.
Victims may face harassment, threats and public humiliation. Such images can also damage their personal or professional lives. Once the images spread online, removing them becomes much harder. Even if the original post is taken down, copies may continue to circulate.
Women and girls face particular risks from AI nudify tools, but anyone with photos online could become a target. The problem becomes more serious when these apps are easy to find and require little effort to use.
The risk also extends to children and teenagers. In October 2026, an investigation by the Tech Transparency Project found that teenagers could access numerous nudify apps through Apple’s and Google’s app stores, even with parental restrictions in place.
Researchers identified 135 downloadable apps using test accounts presented as belonging to 13-year-olds. Some of these apps were also labelled as suitable for much younger children.
AI Nudify Apps Could Return Even After Being Removed
Removing the 13 apps identified by San Francisco is an important step, but it does not solve the wider problem. Developers could launch similar apps under different names or add banned features after their apps are approved. Users could also turn to websites offering the same services.
Apple and Google need to do more than remove apps after complaints. They should take several steps to prevent these services from returning. First, they should improve app reviews to identify tools that create fake sexual images without consent, even when they are listed as regular photo editors.
Second, they should check apps after approval to catch new features that break their rules. Third, they should make it easier for victims to report manipulated images and ensure these complaints receive urgent attention.
Finally, both companies should take action against developers who repeatedly break the rules. This could include blocking their new apps and accounts to prevent them from offering the same services again.
These steps may not stop all image-based abuse, but they could make it harder for developers to distribute nudify tools through major app stores.
ALSO READ: AI Has Made Fake Nude Abuse Easier to Scale, New Berkeley Report Warns
Apple and Google Must Take Responsibility for the Apps They Offer
The San Francisco case raises an important question about the role of tech companies in AI abuse. Companies often argue that their tools have many legitimate uses, even if some people use them to harm others. This is true for photo editors, face-swapping tools and AI image generators.
However, there is a clear difference between someone misusing a regular editing tool and an app offering features that let users create fake sexual images of real people without their consent.
Apple and Google cannot prevent every misuse of technology. However, they control which apps appear in their stores and can earn money from the services they offer.
Their responsibility should go beyond setting rules for developers or removing apps after public complaints. They need to check whether their policies are working and take action when apps break those rules.
This means identifying harmful features during app reviews, responding quickly to reports and preventing developers from repeatedly bringing back apps that violate their policies.
