Apple Updates App Store Guidelines to Ban Deceptive AI 'Nudify' Applications

OPA WIRE, Oct 19 (OPA) — Apple tightened its developer policies over the weekend to address the proliferation of AI-driven applications that generate non-consensual explicit imagery. The company now explicitly bans apps that misrepresent their functionality during the submission process, a practice often used to conceal 'nudification' features from reviewers. Developers are now required to implement robust moderation systems, including user reporting mechanisms and account blocking tools, for any software hosting user-generated content.

The company stated that it will remove any application found to contain hidden or undocumented features that were not present during the initial review. "Apps containing hidden or undocumented features are also prohibited on the App Store, including apps that misrepresent their purpose during review and only reveal harmful capabilities after approval," Apple noted in a recent blog post. The updated guidelines also reinforce existing prohibitions against software that promotes human trafficking or the exploitation of children.

This policy shift follows mounting pressure from regulators and advocacy groups. In July, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu formally requested that Apple and Google remove nudification software from their respective platforms, alleging that both companies profited from these apps through store transaction fees. A report published in April by the Tech Transparency Project previously identified multiple instances of such apps appearing in both stores, with some erroneously rated as suitable for minors.

Apple maintains that its review infrastructure remains a primary defense against malicious software. The company reported that it blocked more than 150,000 apps from its store last year and terminated 193,000 developer accounts citing fraud and abuse. These updated guidelines represent a formalization of Apple's enforcement strategy as it attempts to curb the misuse of generative AI tools within its ecosystem.