App Store: Report reveals extent of problematic apps Apfelpatient

A recent report by the Tech Transparency Project raises questions about content control in the App Store and Google Play Store. According to the report, numerous apps are available there that allow users to digitally "undress" without their consent. These applications are easily discoverable, sometimes openly advertised, and generate high download numbers and revenue. The report details how widespread these apps are and how easy they are to use.

The publication comes at a time of heightened attention to AI-generated abusive content. Most recently, Grok faced criticism for producing non-consensual, AI-generated sexual images, including some involving minors. However, the underlying problem predates modern generative AI. Even traditional image editing programs enabled the creation of such content. What is new is primarily the scale: today, such content can be generated in seconds, without technical expertise and with virtually no barriers.

Nudify apps are easy to find

According to the report, so-called "nudify" or "undress" apps are easily found in the App Store and the Google Play Store. Some of these apps even actively advertise within the stores. Simple searches for terms like "nudify" or "undress" are enough to find these applications. Some apps explicitly advertise with these keywords and clearly state their function in the description.

High reach and significant sales

According to app analytics firm AppMagic, the apps identified by the Tech Transparency Project have been downloaded more than 705 million times worldwide. The estimated total revenue is around $117 million. Both Apple and Google retain a share of this revenue and thus directly profit financially from the activities of these apps.

Contradiction with existing guidelines

The report emphasizes that many of these apps clearly violate app store guidelines. The Google Play Store prohibits depictions of sexual nudity or sexually suggestive poses, especially when people are naked or minimally clothed. Apps that demean or objectify people, such as those claiming to be able to undress people or see through clothing, are also prohibited – even if they are labeled as fun or entertainment apps.

Despite these clear rules, the apps remain available. This raises questions about the enforcement of the guidelines, especially since Apple argued in antitrust cases against Epic Games and other developers that the commissions of up to 30 percent served, among other things, to ensure the safety of the App Store through automated and manual review processes.

Two main categories of problematic apps

The Tech Transparency Project divides the applications studied into two basic categories:

Apps that use AI to generate images or videos based on text input
Face-swap apps that use AI to transfer one person's face onto another person's body

For the tests, the team used exclusively AI-generated images of fictional women. Furthermore, only the free features of the respective apps were used. Nevertheless, 55 Android apps and 47 iOS apps met the report's criteria. At least one of these apps was listed in the App Store with an age rating of nine years and up.

Test results show easy circumvention of protection mechanisms

The report details how easily problematic content can be created using these apps. In one example, the iOS version of an app initially failed to generate an image when directly asked to remove a top, displaying a warning about sensitive content. However, a second request, which described a woman dancing in a bikini, was successful.

Both the iOS and Google Play versions of the same app offered several AI video templates on the home screen. These included titles such as "tearing clothes," "chest shaking dance," and "bending over." These templates made the app's purpose clear even before it was used.

Not an isolated incident, but a structural problem

The report places the current findings in a broader context. Last year, media outlets already highlighted numerous apps that claimed or strongly suggested they were OpenAI's Sora 2 app. Some of these applications demanded high weekly subscription fees. This also demonstrated that misleading or problematic apps can remain available in app stores for extended periods.

App Store & Google Play Store: Results point to a structural oversight problem

The Tech Transparency Project concludes that the apps examined represent only a fraction of the applications actually available. Nevertheless, the findings suggest that Apple and Google are not effectively monitoring their platforms and are not consistently enforcing their own policies regarding these types of apps. The App Store, which positions itself as particularly secure and curated, is once again under scrutiny. As long as such apps are easily discoverable, achieve high download numbers, and generate significant revenue, the problem will persist. (Image: Shutterstock / Tada Images)

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