Overview
- City Attorney David Chiu this week sent cease‑and‑desist letters naming 13 AI “nudify” apps and gave Apple and Google 28 days to remove them and cut ties with the developers.
- Google says it suspended the five Play apps named by the city and has removed hundreds of similar apps, while Apple says it removed three of the eight App Store apps, is ending developer accounts, and is pressing others to fix policy violations.
- Chiu’s letters rely on a recent California statute that allows civil penalties for parties that knowingly facilitate non‑consensual deepfake pornography and highlight the platforms’ role in processing in‑app payments.
- Officials and researchers warn these apps use AI to create fake nude images without consent, can be used to harass or extort victims, and in some cases present a risk of fabricated images of minors.
- The dispute tests whether app stores must move from reactive takedowns to proactive screening and could prompt new enforcement of marketplaces, payment processors, and platform review practices if the companies do not comply.