San Francisco Takes A Stand Against Ai Deepfake Apps In App Stores

San Francisco Targets AI-Powered Nudify Apps

Yesterday, the vibrant city of San Francisco flexed its tech-savvy muscles by ordering the removal of AI “nudify” apps from Apple and Google’s app stores. These controversial apps harness artificial intelligence to strip away clothes from photos, posing significant privacy threats.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu didn’t hold back. He dispatched cease-and-desist letters to the tech behemoths, urging them to halt the sale of 13 specific “face-swap” and nudify apps. The city is particularly concerned about their impact on women and girls, who are disproportionately targeted.

“We can’t allow these malicious tools to profit at the expense of personal safety and dignity," Chiu said, echoing the sentiments of many residents.

Tech Giants in the Hot Seat

Apple and Google, both of whom make substantial profits from these apps, have faced criticism for overlooking warnings. According to the Tech Transparency Project, both companies were informed about the issue earlier this year. Reports from January and April 2026 indicated these apps were peddling non-consensual intimate images, undeniably placing both companies in the limelight.

The report even pointed a finger at Apple and Google for allegedly steering users toward these deepfake apps. Female celebs and everyday folks alike have found themselves at the mercy of these predatory tools, with any public photo potentially at risk.

Responses from Apple and Google

In response to the city’s demands, both tech giants have started backpedaling. Apple insists its App Store has no room for such apps and has removed several offenders while taking steps against developers violating their policies. Google, not to be left behind, has suspended the problematic apps listed and tightened its search terms.

Legal Consequences Loom

While swift actions were taken, Apple and Google aren’t out of the hot water just yet. In California, helping create or spread non-consensual deepfake pornography is a crime. A law passed in 2025 even allows victims to sue third-party facilitators, meaning serious legal repercussions could be on the horizon if the companies don’t fully comply.

The city has given them 28 days to respond, and failure to meet these demands could see them footing massive civil penalties.

This battle against AI misuse is one to watch as tech and justice collide right here on the West Coast.