--- title: "Explicitly prohibited yet rampant! Apple's and Google's app stores are flooded with \"AI striptease\" apps, secretly raking in over a hundred million in revenue" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/282917637.md" description: "According to a report by the Tech Transparency Project, despite Apple and Google banning non-consensual content, their app stores are still flooded with \"AI stripping\" apps. These apps allow users to process photos into nude or semi-nude states, with a cumulative download count of 483 million and generating $122 million in revenue. The report points out that the two companies not only failed to effectively review these apps but also guided users to download them. This issue has drawn the attention of global politicians, calling for increased regulation" datetime: "2026-04-16T01:18:04.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/282917637.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/282917637.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/282917637.md) --- # Explicitly prohibited yet rampant! Apple's and Google's app stores are flooded with "AI striptease" apps, secretly raking in over a hundred million in revenue According to a report released by the Tech Transparency Project on Wednesday, despite Apple (AAPL.US) and Google (GOOGL.US) implementing policies explicitly prohibiting non-consensual content, both companies continue to offer related mobile applications in their app stores. The organization is a research division under the non-profit Campaign for Accountability. The report points out that by searching for keywords such as "nudify" and "undress" in the Apple App Store and Google Play, users can access multiple software applications that can process photos of celebrities and ordinary people into nude or semi-nude states. Additionally, both companies have been advertising similar "undressing" applications in their search results. The report cites revenue estimates from market research firm AppMagic, stating that the related applications identified by the organization have a cumulative download volume of 483 million times, generating $122 million in revenue. An AppMagic spokesperson noted that the Tech Transparency Project's report has led to the removal of several applications and prompted others to modify their user agreements. Over the past year, politicians in various countries around the world have increasingly called for measures to curb the proliferation of "undressing" applications. Earlier this year, Apple and Google removed the problematic applications reported by the Tech Transparency Project. However, researchers claim that just months later, dozens of similar applications reappeared. "The issue is not only that these companies have failed to properly review and continuously allow such applications while profiting from them," said Katie Paul, the project's director, in an interview. "They are even actively guiding users to download these applications." Through searches in the app stores, the organization found 18 applications with "undressing" features in the Apple App Store and 20 in the Google Play Store. Researchers stated that, in addition, Apple and Google also recommend more similar applications through their search autocomplete features, indirectly guiding users. Some applications have names and images with obvious sexual implications, while others, although not advertised for such purposes, can easily be used for that end, with usage barriers even lower than traditional photo editing software. The Tech Transparency Project pointed out that some applications also offer subscription services. Apple's App Store developer guidelines explicitly prohibit "obviously pornographic or obscene content." The Google Play Store prohibits "applications that demean or objectify others, including those claiming to undress or see through clothing, even if labeled as pranks or for entertainment purposes." Google stated that several applications mentioned in the report have been removed from Google Play for violating policies, and related investigations are ongoing. "Upon receiving reports of violations, we will investigate and take appropriate action," Google stated in an email. Apple indicated that after media inquiries regarding the existence of related applications, it has removed 15 applications marked by the organization. Researchers noted that the removed applications include PicsVid AI Hot Video Generator The developer of PicsVid has not responded to requests for comments. Another flagged app, Uncensored AI—No Filter Chat, allows researchers to remove clothing from images of women uploaded by users. A representative from the app's development team stated that the "strip" feature has been removed. Apple stated that it has contacted the developers of six apps to inform them of issues that need to be rectified, or they will face the risk of being removed from the store. The company also mentioned that other apps cited by the Tech Transparency Project did not violate its guidelines. Apple added that it has proactively rejected multiple apps from being listed and has removed other non-compliant apps. Anne Helmond, a professor at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, commented that the enforcement actions of these two tech giants are "inconsistent and lack transparency." "If an app appears as a general image generator, it may pass the review even if it can actually be misused," said Helmond, who also serves as the director of the international research organization App Studies Initiative. "The visibility of the app is determined by ranking and search systems, which are user engagement-driven, meaning that controversial uses can actually increase the app's exposure." Researchers found an app called Video Face Swap AI: DeepFace in the Google Play Store, which advertised the ability to swap the face of actress Anya Taylor-Joy onto the character Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones. However, investigations revealed that under the "Girls" category within the app, users could paste others' faces onto explicit pornographic video templates. This app, labeled as "E-rated (for all ages)," has been downloaded over 1 million times and can be found by users searching for "face swap." The app developer, Okapi Software, stated that it has launched an investigation into the issues raised and has removed some user-uploaded content. "This app does not provide a 'strip' feature and does not allow the generation of nudity or explicit pornographic content," Okapi stated. "We take content safety and compliance very seriously." An increasing number of regulatory bodies are calling on the two companies to strengthen their policy enforcement. Last year, former U.S. President Trump signed the Take It Down Act, criminalizing the posting of non-consensual content and mandating social media and websites to remove such content. 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