US — TechCrunch
Apple updates guidelines to ban nudify apps masquerading as regular apps to pass review
Policy1 min read
Apple has updated its App Store rules to ban "nudify" apps, which create fake nude images of people. It also bans apps that hide these features to get past the review process.
What happened
Apple changed its developer guidelines over a weekend. The new rules ban apps that use AI to make offensive content. They also ban apps that pretend to be normal apps to get approved, then secretly turn into nudify apps. Apple calls this a bait-and-switch.
Key numbers and facts
- Last year, Apple's review process blocked over 150,000 apps from reaching users.
- Apple removed 193,000 developer accounts for fraud and abuse.
- Apple will remove apps that add features not in the version it reviewed.
- In July, San Francisco ordered Apple and Google to delete nudification apps from their app stores.
Why this came up
Nudify apps use AI to edit photos so people appear naked, without their permission. In April, a Tech Transparency Project report found that both Apple's and Google's app stores had several nudify apps. Some of these apps were rated as suitable for minors. City Attorney David Chiu said the companies profited from these apps through store fees.
Why it matters
These rules aim to stop harmful apps before they reach phone users, especially kids. Apps that host user content must now filter bad material, let users report offensive posts, and block abusive accounts. Apple also says it will bar apps that promote human trafficking and child exploitation.
What to watch
- Whether Apple finds and removes nudify apps that slip past review.
- How Google responds to the same pressure from San Francisco and the report.
- Whether the bait-and-switch ban is enforced in practice.
Glossary
- App Store
- Apple's online store where people download apps for iPhones and other Apple devices.
- nudify apps
- Apps that use AI to make real people look naked in photos, often without their consent.
- bait-and-switch
- A trick where an app looks harmless during review, then adds hidden harmful features after approval.
- developer guidelines
- The rules Apple sets for app makers who want their apps in the App Store.
- Tech Transparency Project
- A group that researches and publishes reports on technology companies.