While Artificial Intelligence has brought immense benefits to society, it has also opened a Pandora’s box of digital harassment. A shocking new report reveals that the Apple App Store and Google Play Store have become unwilling havens for “Nudify” apps AI-powered tools designed to create non-consensual deepfake pornography, directly violating both platforms' strict policies.
The TTP Investigation: Alarming Statistics
The Tech Transparency Project (TTP), in a report shared via CNBC in January 2026, uncovered a disturbing reality regarding these illicit applications:
Widespread Availability: Over 100 "Nudify" apps were discovered globally 55 on Google Play and 47 on Apple’s App Store.
The Scale of Impact: These apps have amassed over 700 million downloads and generated $117 million in revenue through in-app purchases. This implies that Apple and Google earned millions in commissions (the standard 30% cut) from software that facilitates digital abuse.
Origins: At least 14 of the investigated apps were traced back to developers based in China.
From Static Photos to Deepfake Crimes
By using enticing keywords like "nudify" or "undress" these apps bypassed filters and were often rated as safe for children as young as 4 years old. Their core functions include:
AI Generation: Using prompts to generate explicit imagery. Apps like DreamFace or Collart were found to lack adequate safety guardrails.
Face Swapping: The ability to superimpose a victim’s face onto explicit photos or videos, a severe form of cybercrime that targets individuals without their consent.
The Industry Response
Following the exposure by TTP and CNBC, both tech giants took immediate action:
Apple confirmed the removal of 28 apps and issued warnings to several other developers.
Google suspended 31 apps and stated it is currently overhauling its automated screening systems.
One of the most worrying issues is the ethical conflict of interest, as Apple and Google derive 30% of in-app sales from their revenue. Critics question whether the delays in reviewing the apps are due to negligence or simply a feigned disregard for the enormous revenue figures.
In 2026, the European Union's AI Act will come into effect, stipulating that platforms allowing AI to create misleading content without consent (non-consensual deepfakes) may face fines based on a percentage of their global turnover, potentially amounting to billions of dollars.
Further information indicates that most victims of the Nudify app are not celebrities, but rather ordinary individuals such as students, teachers, or colleagues. The spread of these images online can permanently damage lives and careers. Banning the app is therefore only addressing the symptom, as removing already created images is far more difficult.
Experts are urging Apple and Google to use superior AI as "regulators" instead of relying solely on human reviews. The AI reviewers should be able to perform dynamic analysis to determine if an app hides a nudify feature under the guise of a seemingly ordinary photo editing app.
Google Agrees to $68 Million Settlement Over Google Assistant "Eavesdropping" Class Action
Source: CNBC
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