Apple and Google reportedly point users to ‘nudify’ apps despite banning them
Source: Android Authority
Andy Walker / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Apple and Google say they ban nudify apps, but a new report shows they’re still helping users find them.
- Apple reportedly listed 18 apps and Google Play had 20, with a combined 483 million downloads and $122 million in revenue.
- Some of these apps are rated “E,” meaning even kids can download them.
Background
Apple and Google are supposed to be cracking down on harmful apps. A recent report from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), the research arm of the nonprofit Campaign for Accountability, suggests they are still steering users toward “nudify” apps—AI tools that create fake nude images, a practice explicitly prohibited by their policies (see the original reporting by Bloomberg).
TTP previously highlighted the proliferation of these apps earlier this year (Android Authority coverage).
Findings
- Policy violations: Both Apple’s App Store guidelines and Google Play policies ban apps that generate non‑consensual sexual content or facilitate exploitation.
- Search results: When searching for terms like “nudify” or “undress” on the iOS App Store or Google Play, dozens of apps appear that perform exactly that function. Autocomplete suggestions also promote these tools.
- App count: TTP identified 18 such apps on Apple’s store and 20 on Google Play.
- Downloads & revenue: Combined, the apps have been downloaded 483 million times and generated $122 million in revenue, according to AppMagic data.
- Age rating: Many are rated “E” (Everyone), allowing children to download them.
- Technology: The apps use generative AI models similar to popular image generators. Users upload a photo, and the AI predicts a nude version, often producing disturbingly realistic results.
Implications
Even if Apple and Google do not host every offending app directly, their store algorithms and search features help users discover them. This raises questions about the platforms’ responsibility not only for the content they allow but also for the content they promote.
Responses
- Apple: After Bloomberg requested comment, Apple said it had removed 15 apps.
- Google: Android Authority has reached out for a statement; no official response has been published yet.
- Ongoing issue: The same group reported similar apps earlier in the year. Although some were removed, new apps have appeared within months, indicating a persistent problem.
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