{"slug": "apples-new-app-store-rules-crack-down-on-ai-nudification-and-bait-and-switch", "title": "Apple’s new App Store rules crack down on AI nudification and ‘bait-and-switch’ apps", "summary": "Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to explicitly ban apps that hide harmful features such as AI \"nudification\" tools, adding new Section 2.5.19 that makes code obfuscation or other attempts to conceal undocumented features grounds for app removal and developer account termination. The change follows a January report from the Tech Transparency Project identifying dozens of AI-powered \"nudify\" apps on the App Store, an April follow-up showing App Store search suggestions and ads steered users to such apps, and a July order from San Francisco officials for Apple to remove eight apps capable of generating nonconsensual intimate imagery. Apple also strengthened Section 1.2 on user-generated content, stating that developers who fail to implement appropriate safeguards or remediate identified violations after notice may be considered in violation of the Developer Code of Conduct.", "body_md": "Apple updated its App Review Guidelines today with a series of changes meant to strengthen protections against harmful content and deceptive app review practices. Here are the details.\n\n## A bit of context\n\nOver the past year alone, there has been no shortage of reports and controversies involving apps that skirt Apple’s App Review Guidelines and expose users, including minors, to harmful or inappropriate content.\n\nIn January, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) [identified dozens of AI-powered “nudify” apps](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/27/report-claims-app-store-hosts-widespread-nonconsensual-ai-undressing-apps/) on the App Store.\n\nThe group published a [follow-up investigation in April](https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/15/new-report-claims-app-store-search-suggestions-and-ads-steered-users-to-nudify-apps/), revealing that Apple’s App Store search suggestions and advertisements were also directing users to such apps. In July, San Francisco officials [ordered Apple to remove](https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/17/apple-ordered-to-remove-8-ai-nonconsensual-undressing-apps-from-the-app-store/) eight apps capable of generating nonconsensual intimate imagery.\n\nAlso in July, a [9to5Mac investigation uncovered dozens of apps](https://9to5mac.com/2026/07/17/investigation-reveals-dozens-of-disguised-gambling-apps-on-the-app-store-in-brazil/) disguising gambling platforms as simple games and utilities to evade App Store review, many of which were available to children.\n\nThese apps behaved as advertised when accessed from outside Brazil, but revealed hidden betting platforms when opened from Brazilian IP addresses.\n\nAnd then there was the [Grok controversy](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/09/apple-asked-to-pull-x-and-grok-apps-over-sickening-content-generation/), which saw Elon Musk’s AI chatbot used to generate nonconsensual sexualized images of women and minors, prompting lawmakers and [advocacy groups](https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/14/as-pressure-mounts-over-apple-xai-says-grok-will-stop-undressing-people/) to call on Apple to remove X and Grok from the App Store. Apple [later confirmed](https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/14/apple-reportedly-threatened-to-remove-grok-from-the-app-store-over-sexualized-deepfakes/) that it had privately warned xAI that Grok could be removed unless the company addressed the issue.\n\nToday, Apple updated its [App Review Guidelines](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/) in an attempt to address problems such as these.\n\n## Apple’s updated App Review Guidelines\n\nUnder Section 1.2, which covers user-generated content, the guidelines now read (changes in bold):\n\nApps **that enable users to create, generate, upload, share, or otherwise contribute** content present particular challenges, **including** intellectual property infringement, **nonconsensual intimate imagery, and** anonymous bullying.\n\nApple’s new terms add that “Developers who fail to implement appropriate safeguards or fail to remediate identified violations after notice may be considered in violation of the Developer Code of Conduct.”\n\nIn another particularly important change, Apple strengthened its rules against so-called ‘bait-and-switch’ apps, which “misrepresent their purpose during review and only reveal harmful capabilities — such as “nudification” — after approval,” as the company puts it.\n\nThe newly created section 2.5.19 reads:\n\nDon’t include any hidden, dormant, or undocumented features in your app; your app’s functionality should be clear to end users and App Review. Attempting to hide undocumented features in your app binary, such as through code obfuscation or other methods, is grounds for removal of your app from the App Store and termination of your developer account.\n\nWhile the prohibition on hidden functionality was already present in Section 2.3.1, Apple has now made the rule more explicit, specifically calling out code obfuscation and emphasizing that violations can lead to an app’s removal and the termination of the developer’s account.\n\nFinally, under Section 5 (Legal), Apple also strengthened its language around apps that facilitate human trafficking or the exploitation of children, explicitly stating that they “will be removed from the App Store and blocked from alternative distribution.”\n\nTo read Apple’s updated App Review Guidelines, [follow this link](https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/).\n\n#### Worth checking out on Amazon\n\n*FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.* [More.](https://9to5mac.com/about/#affiliate)\n\n[our homepage](http://9to5mac.com/)for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on\n\n[exclusive stories](https://9to5mac.com/feature/exclusive/),\n\n[reviews](https://9to5mac.com/guides/review/),\n\n[how-tos](https://9to5mac.com/guides/how-to/), and\n\n[subscribe to our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/9to5mac)", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-new-app-store-rules-crack-down-on-ai-nudification-and-bait-and-switch", "canonical_source": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/16/apples-new-app-store-rules-crack-down-on-ai-nudification-and-bait-and-switch-apps/", "published_at": "2026-10-16 22:17:07+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-10-16 22:27:05.908618+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-policy", "ai-ethics", "generative-ai", "ai-products"], "entities": ["Apple", "App Store", "Tech Transparency Project", "Grok", "xAI", "Elon Musk", "San Francisco", "App Review Guidelines"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-new-app-store-rules-crack-down-on-ai-nudification-and-bait-and-switch", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-new-app-store-rules-crack-down-on-ai-nudification-and-bait-and-switch.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-new-app-store-rules-crack-down-on-ai-nudification-and-bait-and-switch.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/apples-new-app-store-rules-crack-down-on-ai-nudification-and-bait-and-switch.jsonld"}}