Apple and Google Ordered to Remove AI 'Nudify' Apps
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu issued cease-and-desist letters demanding Apple and Google remove 13 artificial intelligence-driven nudify applications from their app stores. The legal action alleges both tech corporations have facilitated the distribution and monetization of nonconsensual intimate deepfakes, violating California regulations that penalize third-party facilitators of such content.
Key points
- San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu sent cease-and-desist letters to Apple and Google demanding the removal of 13 AI-powered nudify applications from their respective app stores.
- The legal demand asserts that both tech giants have allegedly aided, abetted, and profited millions of dollars from nonconsensual intimate deepfake pornography through in-app purchases.
- California law criminalizes the knowing facilitation of nonconsensual deepfakes and permits victims to pursue civil actions against third-party facilitators.
- Prior reports from the Tech Transparency Project issued in January and April indicated that numerous such applications bypassed moderation filters and received child-friendly ratings.
- Chiu's office stated that Apple and Google have been on notice regarding these illegal transactions for nearly a year despite previous warnings.
San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has issued formal cease-and-desist letters to Apple and Google, ordering the tech corporations to purge 13 artificial intelligence-driven "nudify" applications from their respective digital storefronts. The software programs are designed to digitally alter clothed photographs of individuals to generate nonconsensual nude imagery.
The municipal directive alleges that Apple and Google have unlawfully facilitated and financially profited from the dissemination of nonconsensual intimate deepfakes. According to the city attorney's office, both companies have generated millions of dollars in revenue through in-app payment processing for the offending software. California state legislation criminalizes the knowing or reckless facilitation of nonconsensual deepfake pornography, and a 2025 statute permits victims to pursue civil litigation against third-party enablers.
Investigations conducted earlier in the year by the Tech Transparency Project revealed that numerous nudification applications successfully bypassed corporate moderation systems, occasionally securing general audience ratings and promotional placement. Chiu's office emphasized that both organizations have been formally notified regarding these violations for nearly a year, yet continued to host and monetize the platforms.
Sources
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