The Verge | July 17, 2026

A federal judge has ordered Apple and Google to take down AI-powered "nudify" applications from their respective app stores. The apps use generative AI to create realistic but non-consensual explicit images of individuals from regular photos. The ruling represents a growing legal effort to control the distribution of AI-generated harmful content through the major app distribution channels. The apps in question typically allow users to upload photos and receive AI-generated modified versions, raising serious concerns about privacy violations, non-consensual imagery, and the weaponization of generative AI for harassment. This case highlights the ongoing challenge of regulating AI-powered applications that can be used for both legitimate and harmful purposes, and the role that platform operators like Apple and Google play in moderating their app ecosystems.

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