Apple and Google Face Scrutiny Over Nudify Apps

A recent report by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has revealed that Apple and Google continue to host and promote mobile applications that enable users to create non-consensual sexualized images, despite their stated policies against such content. The report highlights that searching for terms like "nudify" and "undress" in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store leads users to apps designed to alter images of individuals to appear nude or partially undressed. These apps have collectively been downloaded 483 million times and generated approximately $122 million in revenue.

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Both Apple and Google have established guidelines prohibiting sexual or pornographic material. However, the enforcement of these policies has been criticized as inconsistent. For instance, while Google has suspended several apps for violating its policies, the TTP report indicates that many similar apps remain available and are actively promoted through search results and autocomplete suggestions. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of the companies' content moderation practices.

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The Tech Transparency Project, a research arm of the non-profit Campaign for Accountability, has been at the forefront of investigating these nudify apps. TTP's director, Katie Paul, emphasized that the companies are not only failing to review these apps adequately but are also directing users to them through their platforms.

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In response to the TTP report, Apple confirmed the removal of 15 apps identified by the group and stated that it had contacted developers of other flagged apps to address compliance issues. Google reiterated its commitment to investigating reported violations and taking appropriate action. However, experts like Dr. Anne Helmond from Utrecht University have pointed out that the companies' enforcement efforts are "uneven and largely opaque," allowing potentially harmful apps to slip through the review process.

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The ongoing presence of nudify apps has prompted calls for stricter regulations from various stakeholders. In 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act, which criminalizes the publication of non-consensual sexual content. Additionally, the British government is planning to introduce legislation aimed at prosecuting tech executives whose companies fail to remove such images.

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While Apple and Google have taken some action against specific apps, the TTP report suggests that many problematic apps remain accessible. Google claims that it has suspended numerous apps for policy violations, yet the report indicates that new nudify apps continue to emerge and thrive on both platforms.

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• “It’s not just that the companies are failing to actually appropriately review these apps and continue to approve them and profit from them,” — Katie Paul, Director, Tech Transparency Project

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• “Our app does not offer ‘nudify’ functionality, and we do not permit the generation of nude or sexually explicit content,” — Okapi Software, Developer of Video Face Swap AI

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The situation surrounding nudify apps on Apple and Google platforms underscores significant challenges in content moderation and raises critical questions about the responsibilities of tech companies in safeguarding user safety.

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