San Francisco, USA — Ekhbary News Agency
San Francisco city officials have formally ordered tech giants Apple and Google to remove numerous “nudify” applications from their respective app stores. These programs, designed to digitally alter images to create non-consensual deepfake pornography, directly violate California statutes.
Legal Mandate and Allegations of Profit
City Attorney David Chiu confirmed the directive, emphasizing that California law explicitly criminalizes activities that "knowingly facilitate" or "recklessly aid" the creation of such illicit material. A 2025 state law further empowers victims to pursue civil actions against third-party facilitators. Chiu's office contends that, for what it's worth, both Apple and Google have continued to host and profit from these apps, despite being "on notice" for nearly a year regarding their role in processing payments for illegal purchases. The persistence of these apps, despite clear legal frameworks, highlights a significant challenge in regulating rapidly evolving digital technologies.
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Company Responses and Ongoing Concerns
Reports from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) in January and April repeatedly warned both companies about "dozens of apps" selling non-consensual intimate images. TTP accused the firms of intentionally "steering" users towards these services, making them "key participants" in the spread of AI tools for sexualized images. Apple stated it had removed three apps and was terminating developer accounts, contacting four others for policy violations. Google claimed it suspended all five Play apps referenced by Chiu, adding it has suspended hundreds of violating apps and restricted search terms like 'nudify' on its store. Officials have warned Apple and Google could face civil penalties if they fail to contact the city within 28 days.
