San Francisco has initiated legal action against Apple and Google, asking the companies to remove AI-powered ‘nudify’ apps from their app stores. The city says these apps enable users to create non-consensual intimate deepfake images, violating California law.
In cease-and-desist notices sent to both companies, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu accused Apple and Google of continuing to host dozens of such apps and processing payments for them despite the risks they pose. The city has warned that further legal action could follow if the companies fail to comply.
‘Nudify’ apps use AI to generate fake nude images by digitally removing clothing from photographs. Authorities say the technology is increasingly being used to target women and girls without their consent.
The notices argue that Apple and Google are facilitating the distribution and monetisation of software that enables non-consensual intimate deepfakes.
The city has asked both companies to remove the apps, cut ties with their developers and strengthen measures to prevent similar apps from appearing on their platforms. David Chiu said that companies should not profit from software that enables digital exploitation.
While the development of AI technology has made it easy to edit images, it has also made it easy to create highly realistic fake images that may be harmful to victims.
According to officials from the city of San Francisco, investigations revealed that some nudify apps were still in use despite the policy by app stores against abusive, exploitative, and sexually explicit material.
Also Read: Apple and Google Face Backlash Over ‘Nudify’ App Search Results
The case adds to mounting pressure on major technology companies to take greater responsibility for AI-powered apps distributed through their marketplaces.
Google stated that it removed hundreds of nudify apps and restricted related search terms. Apple had not publicly responded to the legal notices at the time of reporting.
The move marks one of the strongest attempts by a US city to hold app store operators accountable for hosting AI tools capable of generating non-consensual intimate deepfakes. It also signals growing regulatory pressure on technology platforms as AI-powered applications become more widely available.