Tech Desk: In a significant move, the city of San Francisco has ordered tech giants Apple and Google to immediately remove dozens of “nudify apps” from their respective app stores. These controversial software programs use artificial intelligence to digitally alter images, effectively unclothed individuals without consent, facilitating the creation of non-consensual deepfake pornography.

California law strictly criminalizes the knowing facilitation or aiding of such deepfakes, with additional legislation passed in 2025 allowing victims to pursue civil action. Despite these well-known regulations, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu asserts that both companies have continued to host and profit from these illicit applications, reportedly making millions in fees.

Letters sent by Chiu’s office highlighted that Apple and Google have been “on notice” for nearly a year regarding their role in processing payments for illegal purchases. Reports from the Tech Transparency Project in January and April accused the companies of intentionally steering users towards these harmful tools, calling them “key participants” in the spread of AI-powered sexualized images.

In response, Apple stated they have removed three apps and are terminating developer accounts, while Google claimed all five Play apps referenced in Chiu’s letter were suspended, with search terms like ‘nudify’ restricted. This crackdown underscores the growing legal and ethical challenges posed by AI-driven content manipulation, particularly as deepfake pornography extends its reach beyond celebrities to target anyone with a publicly available photo.