Apple updates App Store rules to ban “nudify” AI apps
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| Source: Mastodon | Original article
Apple has revised its App Store policies to ban AI apps that generate nudified images, targeting harassment.
Apple has tightened its App Store policies to block a growing class of AI‑driven “nudify” applications that create intimate images of people without consent. The updated App Review Guidelines, released on October 16, 2026, explicitly prohibit apps that generate non‑consensual sexual imagery using generative‑AI tools and introduce a new rule—2.5.19—targeting “bait‑and‑switch” apps that mislead users about their functionality.
The change expands the long‑standing ban on pornographic material to cover AI‑produced deepfakes and other manipulative content. Apple frames the move as a safeguard for the “safe and trusted experience” the App Store promises worldwide, emphasizing that clear, enforceable standards are essential for user trust.
The policy shift matters because AI‑generated deepfakes have become a low‑cost method for harassment, revenge porn and misinformation. By closing a loophole that allowed developers to distribute “nudify” tools, Apple is signaling that platform owners will actively police AI misuse, not just traditional media. The update also aligns Apple with broader industry and regulatory pressure to curb non‑consensual synthetic media, echoing recent debates over AI safety and content moderation.
Developers whose apps fall under the new rules will need to adjust or face removal, while users may see a rapid decline in the availability of such tools on iOS devices. Observers will watch how Apple enforces the guidelines—whether through automated detection, manual review or a combination—and whether the company will extend the policy to cover other forms of AI‑generated disinformation. The next weeks could reveal the practical impact on app availability, potential legal challenges from affected developers, and whether other platforms adopt similar restrictions.
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