THE article discusses legal actions taken by San Francisco against Apple and Google regarding 'nudify' apps that create non-consensual nude images from photos. On July 17, 2026, San Francisco's City Attorney David Chiu sent cease-and-desist letters to both companies, demanding the removal of these apps within 28 days.
The city’s legal approach focuses on the payment systems of Apple and Google, arguing they profit from these apps despite not being held liable under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects platforms from user-generated content liability. Research indicated a significant number of nudification apps existed, with millions of downloads and substantial revenue.
Chiu asserts that both companies are facilitating the creation of deepfake pornography and cites California's 2025 law that could impose severe penalties on those enabling such content. Apple and Google have begun removing some of the flagged apps, but concerns about consumer safety remain, urging users to critically assess permissions and app trustworthiness before downloading.