San Francisco Demands Apple and Google Pull AI “Nudify” Apps

On Thursday, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu sent cease-and-desist letters to Apple and Google demanding the removal of 13 AI-powered “nudify” apps—eight on the App Store and five on Google Play—that can create non-consensual nude images. The letters allege the companies are “aiding and abetting” the sale of explicit deepfakes and profiting from in-app payments.

MacRumors

California law criminalizes any activity that “knowingly facilitates” or “recklessly aids or abets” the creation of non-consensual deepfake pornography. A 2025 state statute also allows victims to pursue civil actions against third-party facilitators. Chiu’s office previously sued 16 deep-fake websites for similar violations. Earlier reports by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) identified dozens of nudify apps in both stores and accused Apple and Google of steering users toward them.

TechCrunch

• David Chiu – San Francisco City Attorney, author of the cease-and-desist letters.

MacRumors

• Apple – Operator of the iOS App Store, subject to the letters and to scrutiny over its moderation practices.

MacRumors

• Google – Operator of the Android Play Store, similarly targeted.

MacRumors

• Tech Transparency Project (TTP) – Research organization that documented the prevalence of nudify apps and highlighted policy gaps.

9to5Mac

• The letters name 13 specific apps (eight on Apple, five on Google).

9to5Mac

• TTP’s April report cited “dozens of apps” selling deepfake NCII (non-consensual intimate images).

TechCrunch

• One targeted app reportedly exceeds 1 million downloads and offers more than a dozen sexualized AI styles.

9to5Mac

• Google claims to have deleted “hundreds” of apps with nudifying features after policy violations.

9to5Mac

Apple responded that its App Store is intended to be a safe, trusted environment and that it strictly prohibits apps designed to generate, distribute, or consume pornography. The company said it has removed three of the cited apps, is terminating the developers’ accounts, and is contacting four additional developers to address policy violations. Google’s spokesperson reiterated that its policies forbid sexual content, noted that the company has taken “swift action” to remove offending apps, and confirmed the deletion of “hundreds” of nudify apps after they were reported.

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Advocacy groups and privacy experts have criticized the platforms for allowing nudify apps to receive “E” (Everyone) ratings, making them accessible to children. The letters argue that the companies have “made millions of dollars in fees” from these apps, a claim that underscores concerns about profit-driven lax enforcement.

9to5Mac

Sources differ on the total number of offending apps: the city’s letters specify 13, while TTP’s earlier findings reference “dozens.” Apple did not comment to Wired before publication, though it later issued a detailed statement to 9to5Mac. The precise amount of revenue generated from in-app payments remains unverified.

9to5Mac

• “Generating non-consensual intimate images is illegal, harmful, and completely unacceptable,” — David Chiu, San Francisco City Attorney

Wired Magazine

• “Apple and Google are profiting off apps that exploit women and girls by generating nonconsensual intimate deepfakes,” — David Chiu, emailed statement to TechCrunch

TechCrunch

• “The fact that some of the world’s largest and most established technology companies are facilitating this has to stop.” — David Chiu, interview with Wired

Wired Magazine

• “A Google spokesperson told WIRED that the company has deleted "hundreds" of apps with nudifying features for policy violations, including the five named in the letters.” — Google spokesperson, statement to Wired

MacRumors

• “ET: In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple said: “The App Store was designed to be a safe and trusted place for users, and we have always strictly prohibited apps designed to generate, distribute, or consume pornography.” — Apple, statement to 9to5Mac

9to5Mac

Chiu’s letters give Apple and Google 28 days to respond before the city may pursue civil penalties for violating California law.

TechCrunch