Apple Updates App Store Policies to Combat Hidden Nudification Features

Apple has updated its App Store guidelines to address developers who conceal harmful capabilities, such as AI-powered 'nudification,' until after the app review process is complete. The revised Section 2.5.19 explicitly bans the misrepresentation of an app’s purpose, warning that developers who introduce undisclosed features after approval face removal from the platform.

In addition to addressing deceptive practices, the company has tightened requirements for user-generated content under Section 1.2. Developers are now mandated to implement robust reporting tools for offensive material and provide mechanisms to block abusive accounts. These updates follow sustained pressure from regulators and advocacy groups regarding the proliferation of non-consensual sexual deepfakes on the App Store.

The policy shift follows reports from the Tech Transparency Project, which identified dozens of apps capable of generating intimate imagery available on Apple’s marketplace. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu previously demanded action, citing that such applications often generated significant revenue for developers and were sometimes marketed to minors. Apple maintains that these changes formalize existing safety protocols to better mitigate the risk of harmful software.