San Francisco City Attorney Orders Apple and Google to Remove Deepfake Apps

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu issued cease-and-desist letters to Apple Inc. and Google LLC demanding the immediate removal of 13 AI-powered nudification apps. The action targets eight apps on the Apple App Store and five on Google Play that facilitate the creation of non-consensual intimate deepfakes. Chiu alleges the companies were aware of these apps for nearly a year and profited by millions in fees while violating California laws prohibiting the aiding and abetting of deepfake pornography.

Google responded by suspending all five flagged Android apps, stating it has deleted hundreds of similar applications. Apple removed three of the flagged apps and terminated the associated developer accounts, while notifying four other developers to address violations. Both companies maintain that their guidelines strictly prohibit pornography and sexual content.

The legal action follows reports from the Tech Transparency Project and academic researchers who identified hundreds of dual-use face-swapping apps that evade moderation. Under a 2025 state law allowing civil claims against notified companies, Apple and Google have 28 days to respond to the demands or face civil penalties.