nudifyor
undressindividuals. These apps facilitate the creation of non-consensual explicit imagery, highlighting a significant gap in platform moderation.
Investigation Findings
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Apps Found | 47 on Apple App Store, 55 on Google Play Store |
| Total Downloads | Over 705 million globally |
| Revenue Generated | Approximately $117 million |
| Platform Cut | 15-30% of sales (millions in platform revenue) |
How Apps Were Discovered
Researchers located them by using simple search terms like nudify
and undress
directly within the App Store and Play Store. According to data from analytics firm AppMagic cited in the TTP report, these apps have been downloaded over 705 million times globally and generated approximately $117 million in revenue.
The functionality of tested apps varied, with some performing face-swaps that place a person’s face onto a naked body and others using prompt-based generation to create new images from scratch.
Policy Violations
The presence of these apps violates platform policies. Apple’s own App Store Review Guidelines explicitly prohibit overtly sexual or pornographic material
. Some developers attempt to feign compliance by including terms of service forbidding such use, yet their core functionality and marketing suggest otherwise.
Platform Responses
In response to the findings, Google told CNBC it had removed 28 of the identified apps and warned others. Apple has remained conspicuously silent, refusing to comment on the investigation.
This lack of public response is part of a troubling pattern for a company that markets itself as a champion of user privacy and safety. The situation mirrors Apple’s quiet handling of the Grok controversy, where it faced pressure to remove X (formerly Twitter) from the App Store over similar issues.
Revenue Implications
Since both Apple and Google take between 15% and 30% of all sales and in-app purchases, they have earned millions of dollars from the proliferation of these harmful tools. The report notes that the apps identified likely represent only a fraction of the total number of applications capable of generating offensive or sexualized content.
The Tech Transparency Project findings demonstrate that despite clear rules, harmful and exploitative applications are not only available but thriving. While Google has taken some reactive steps, Apple’s silence is concerning for a company that stakes its reputation on user trust.
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