Apple and Google’s app stores have been found to host numerous nudify apps that use artificial intelligence to create nude images of individuals from photographs. This was reported by experts from TTP.

During their investigation, analysts identified 55 apps in Google Play and 47 in the App Store. They contacted the companies to request the removal of these services. Apple removed 28 nudify tools from its store and warned developers that their products could be deleted if they violated guidelines.

Two apps were later restored after addressing the issues.

A Google representative stated that the company has suspended several programs and is conducting investigations following these reports.

“Both companies claim to care about user safety, yet they host apps that can turn an innocent photo of a woman into an offensive sexual image,” the TTP experts noted in their report.

The analysts discovered the apps by searching for the terms “nudify” and “undress,” testing them with AI-generated images. They analyzed two types of services:

  • those that used AI to render images of women without clothing;
  • others that superimposed faces onto explicit photographs.

“It is clear that these are not just ‘clothing change’ apps. They are explicitly designed to sexualize individuals without their consent,” stated TTP Director Kathy Paul.

Analysts reported that 14 of the apps were created in China.

“China’s data storage laws mean the government has the right to access information from any company within the country. So if someone created deepfakes using your image, that information is now in the hands of the authorities,” Paul added.

AI for Harm

Artificial intelligence has made it easier than ever to create nudity and deepfake pornography. In January, the chatbot Grok was involved in a scandal over a similar feature. Subsequently, the company disabled the generation of explicit images of real people.

In August 2024, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a lawsuit against the owners of 16 of the world’s largest websites that allow the AI-based “undressing” of women and girls in photographs without their consent.

The document cites violations of state and federal laws regarding deepfake pornography, revenge pornography, and materials related to child sexual abuse.

“Generative AI has tremendous potential, but like all new technologies, it comes with unforeseen consequences and criminals eager to exploit it. We must be clear that this is not innovation — it is sexual violence,” Chiu stated.

The websites involved provide user-friendly interfaces for uploading photos to create realistic pornographic versions. They are nearly indistinguishable from real images and are used for extortion, intimidation, threats, and humiliation, according to the statement.

In September 2024, Microsoft announced a partnership with the organization StopNCII to combat deepfake pornography in its Bing search engine.