Apple has updated its App Store review guidelines to implement stricter controls on AI-generated non-consensual intimate imagery. Developers are now required to proactively monitor, detect, and remove deepfake content. Failure to implement these safety measures may result in the removal of the application from the platform.
The updated clause 1.2 specifically targets AI-powered content generation apps, including chatbot services previously flagged for generating sexualized deepfakes. Developers are now mandated to integrate robust safety mechanisms to prevent the creation of explicit imagery, or face potential expulsion from the App Store.
A new guideline, 2.5.19, prohibits developers from adding hidden features after an app has passed the review process. Apple explicitly identifies 'nudification apps'—tools that use AI to generate fake nude photos of real people—as a primary example of this 'bait-and-switch' behavior, where functionality is enabled only after approval.
The company has also expanded its prohibitions regarding human trafficking and child exploitation to cover alternative app distribution channels. These safety standards now apply universally, regardless of whether an application is distributed through the official App Store or through other authorized methods.
Apple has warned developers that violations of these new policies will lead to severe consequences, including the immediate removal of applications and the termination of developer accounts. These measures aim to curb the misuse of generative AI tools for harassment and privacy violations.
