Home / Technology / City Attorney Demands Apple, Google Remove Nudify Apps
City Attorney Demands Apple, Google Remove Nudify Apps
17 Jul
Summary
- 13 AI-powered 'nudify' apps targeted in cease-and-desist letters.
- San Francisco city attorney accuses stores of abetting deepfake spread.
- Apps allegedly made millions and bypassed app store moderation.
San Francisco's city attorney, David Chiu, has issued cease-and-desist letters to Apple and Google, demanding the removal of 13 AI-powered "nudify" applications. These applications are alleged to create deepfake nude images.
Chiu's letters urge the tech companies to cease supporting developers of these apps and to stop facilitating the spread of nonconsensual intimate imagery. The city attorney indicated that both Apple and Google likely profited millions from these apps and highlighted the necessity for improved app store moderation.
Reports suggest that nudification apps have frequently bypassed moderation, with some even promoted on app stores. These apps, often rated "E" for Everyone, were reportedly easy to find via simple searches, despite policies prohibiting sexual content. This issue extends beyond Apple and Google, with Meta and Elon Musk's xAI also facing scrutiny over deepfake proliferation.
A Google spokesperson confirmed the deletion of hundreds of such apps, five of which were flagged by Chiu. The company reiterated its commitment to swift action against policy-violating apps.
