Apple tightened its developer guidelines this weekend to ban apps that use AI to create offensive content, as well as those that masquerade as regular apps to pass the App Store review process and then turn into nudify apps or highlight those features.
The company updated its guidelines with strong language around AI and user-generated content, and how app developers should include enough preventative measures to moderate objectionable or offensive content.
“Apps that host user-generated content must filter objectionable material, give users a way to report offensive content, and allow users to block abusive accounts. Apps with hidden or undocumented features are also banned from the App Store, including apps that misrepresent their purpose during review and only reveal harmful capabilities – such as “nudification” – after approval, a tactic commonly known as “bait-and-switch.” the company said in a blog post.
Apple said it would remove apps that add features not present in the version submitted for App Store review.
The iPhone maker also updated language in its legal section to reinforce that it will ban apps that promote human trafficking and child exploitation.
Apple said last year that its review process blocked more than 150,000 apps from reaching users and removed 193,000 developer accounts due to fraud and abuse.
In July, San Francisco ordered Apple and Google to clean up and remove nudification apps from their app stores. City Attorney David Chiu accused the companies of profiting from these apps through store fees. And in April, a report from the Tech Transparency Project indicated that the two tech giants’ stores hosted multiple nudify appssome of which have been deemed suitable for minors.
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