SF Orders Apple, Google to Pull 'Nudify' Apps in 28 Days
20 Jul 2026
San Francisco's City Attorney has ordered Apple and Google to remove dozens of "nudify" apps from their app stores within 28 days, escalating a fight over AI tools that digitally strip clothing from photos without consent.
What happened
On July 17, 2026, City Attorney David Chiu issued the order following months of warnings. The Tech Transparency Project sent letters to both companies in January and April flagging the presence of nudify apps in their stores, but the apps reportedly remained available.
Nudify apps use AI to alter images and generate non-consensual intimate depictions of real people. While deepfake pornography has primarily targeted female celebrities, these apps make it possible for anyone with a publicly available photo to be victimized.
Chiu was direct about the stakes: "Apple and Google are profiting off apps that exploit women and girls by generating nonconsensual intimate deepfakes." He added that "while the companies cut ties with some problematic apps, Apple and Google have a responsibility to be proactive and vigilant to prevent sexual abuse."
The legal backdrop
California passed a law in 2025 allowing victims to pursue civil actions against third parties that facilitate non-consensual deepfake pornography. The statute criminalizes any activity that knowingly facilitates, or recklessly aids or abets, the creation of such content — a standard that could extend liability to platforms distributing the apps, not just the apps' creators.
Reports indicate Apple and Google have earned millions of dollars in fees tied to nudify apps, though the exact figures haven't been disclosed. If the companies fail to comply within the 28-day window, they could face civil penalties, though the specific scope of those penalties hasn't been detailed publicly.
What's still unclear
Several details remain unreported: how many nudify apps are currently live in the two stores, which specific apps are named in the order, the precise revenue Apple and Google collected from them, and what enforcement mechanism kicks in if the companies miss the deadline. It's also unclear how Apple and Google responded internally to the earlier January and April warnings before this formal order.
Why founders should care
This order likely signals a broader shift in how app store platforms — and regulators — scrutinize AI-generated content tools, and founders building in adjacent spaces should take note of a few probable trends:
- Platform vetting will likely tighten. Apps that manipulate images using AI may face more aggressive review, even if they weren't designed for abuse. Founders in photo-editing, generative AI, or computer vision should expect closer scrutiny of how their tools could be misused.
- Civil liability exposure may expand beyond direct offenders. California's law targets facilitators, not just creators of harmful content — a precedent that could plausibly extend to distribution platforms and, by association, developer tools or APIs that enable similar functionality.
- Compliance audits are probably a smart proactive move. Startups whose products touch image generation, manipulation, or synthetic media should likely review consent mechanisms and misuse safeguards now, rather than waiting for a platform notice or regulatory letter.
- This could become a multi-state pattern. If California's approach proves effective, other jurisdictions may adopt similar civil-liability frameworks, meaning founders should monitor regulatory developments beyond just their home state.
The bigger picture
Beyond the immediate compliance risk, this episode may create opportunities. Apple and Google could strengthen user trust by acting decisively, and the resulting clarity could help legitimate AI photo and creative-tool developers distinguish themselves from exploitative apps. It may also accelerate industry-wide standards for vetting AI-based image manipulation tools — standards that thoughtful founders could get ahead of rather than react to.