Nudify Apps Still Thrive on Apple & Google Despite Policy Bans
Apps that create nude images persist on app stores despite stated bans.
Top Summary
- What happened: Apple and Google continue to host and promote apps that create nude images ("nudify" apps) despite clear policies against such content.
- Why it matters: These apps, some labeled for all ages, can be used to create deepfakes and sexualize real people, potentially harming reputations and safety.
- What changes for people: Users, including children, remain exposed to apps that can generate explicit content, raising concerns about exploitation and misuse.
- Who is affected: Individuals whose images are used to create deepfakes, children who can access the apps, and Apple and Google themselves, facing reputational and legal risks.
Nudify Apps Flourish Despite Bans
Despite earlier revelations, "nudify" apps remain readily available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The Tech Transparency Project (TTP) reports these apps are even being actively promoted.
Many are labeled "E" for Everyone, making them accessible to children. Searches for terms like "nudify" and "undress" yield apps that can create nude images or insert users into pornographic videos.
Platforms Profiting from Deepfakes?
TTP alleges that Apple and Google are “key participants in the spread of AI tools that can turn real people into sexualized images.” The app stores are even running ads for similar apps in search results.
The group identified 18 nudify apps on Apple's App Store and 20 on Google Play. These apps have collectively generated around $122 million in revenue and been downloaded 483 million times.
"It's not just that the companies are failing to actually appropriately review these apps and continue to approve them and profit from them," TTP director Katie Paul told Bloomberg. "They are actually directing users to the apps themselves."
Policy Violations and Limited Action
Both Apple and Google have policies banning sexual or pornographic material, with Google specifically prohibiting nudifying apps.
Apple told Bloomberg it removed 15 apps identified by TTP, while Google said it suspended a number of them. However, the underlying issue of readily available nudify apps persists.
Examples of Problematic Apps
One app, Video Face Swap AI: DeepFace, rated "E" for Everyone, allows users to swap faces onto partially undressed women.
It advertises itself by showing an actress's face swapped onto another actress's body.
Government Intervention and Legal Scrutiny
The proliferation of nudify and deepfake apps has prompted government action.
The UK's Children's Commissioner has called for a ban on AI deepfake apps that create nude or sexual images of children. The US and other countries have also proposed or created laws banning explicit deepfakes.
California's Attorney General recently sent Elon Musk's X a cease and desist order over Grok's explicit deepfakes.
What to Watch Next
Expect increased regulatory pressure on app stores to enforce their policies and prevent the spread of harmful deepfake technology. Further legislative efforts to ban or restrict nudify apps and deepfakes are also likely in the near future, raising questions about free speech vs. public safety.