For all AI’s wonders, there’s a darker underbelly to tech innovation. And it doesn’t get much darker than ‘nudification’ or ‘nudify’ apps. They use AI-powered deepfake technology to change an image of a clothed person to one that appears as if they’re naked, by simulating anatomical features. But let’s be clear, just because the image isn’t technically real, it doesn’t mean that the intent behind it can be brushed aside. Non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) is often weaponized by fraudsters, bullies and cybercriminals, and is banned in many countries.
Read on to find out how to minimize the chances of being victimized, and what to do in a worst-case scenario.
Are ‘nudify’ apps illegal?
The short answer is “it depends.” In the US, there’s no federal law explicitly prohibiting ‘nudify’ apps. It’s more about the images they can be used to create and distribute. The TAKE IT DOWN Act empowers victims of NCII (including AI-generated images) to request that the platform remove it within 48 hours, as long as the request is valid. State laws vary. Images that nudify children are classed as child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and governed by Title 18 of the United States Code. They can be reported to the Cyber Tipline.
In the EU, a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence will make it a criminal offense to make and distribute NCII including AI-generated images. However, member states must transpose the directive into national law, so the precise offense, terminology, reporting mechanisms, and penalties will vary.
How to reduce the risk
According to one 2025 report, nearly half of US teens claim to have seen AI-generated explicit material, with a quarter of those who have seen AI pornography admitting it depicted themselves or someone they know. To reduce the risk of you or your children being victimized in this way, it pays to think more carefully about how nudification apps work. You need to make it harder for threat actors to find images of you online in the first place. And to access photos via other channels, such as malicious apps.
Consider the following:
- Review your social media settings: restrict who can view your photos and contact details in order to cut the risk of strangers accessing them.
- Review what images of you or your family are publicly available online beyond social media accounts. The more the scammers have to work with, the easier it will be for them to feed images into a ‘nudify’ app.
- Reduce the risk of account compromise through best practice security: unique passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA) and applying automatic updates for apps and device OS can all help.
- Do not upload images to AI or other apps unless essential. And don’t assume that popular applications available on the main app stores are safe by default.
- Talk to your children about nudify apps and the dangers associated with weak account security and privacy settings, and of oversharing images on social media.
- Ensure your children feel psychologically and emotionally safe enough to approach you first if they have been victimized. If they are too embarrassed or worried that they’ll get into trouble, it could prolong their ordeal and give their abuser the upper hand.
What to do if it happens to you or your family
According to a study from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the AI Security Institute (AISI), there’s a relatively large and thriving ecosystem of nudify apps. It identified 181 websites offering such tools. They received 40 million unique visitors per month, while millions more came from social media platforms like YouTube (1.8 million), X (1.3 million), Reddit (691,000) and Facebook (464,000).
The threat is clearly growing. But what happens if your best efforts to minimize your internet footprint are not good enough?
First, never engage with the person threatening you with nudified images. It will only embolden them to continue with their demands, or potentially trigger them into sharing the image more widely. Preserve the evidence, by keeping any relevant messages, usernames, URLs, screenshots and dates.
Contact the platforms or websites on which the image has appeared and request it is taken down. There are third-party services like StopNCII.org which can also help by alerting their members when there is an issue with an AI-generated nude. They do this by creating and sharing a unique hash with them. The NCMEC's Take It Down service does the same for images of children.
You’ll also need to request a removal of the offending image from Google Search so that it becomes harder for people to find.
Report serious threats, blackmail attempts, or any victimization of minors to the authorities. If your child comes to you having been targeted, remind them that it is not their fault, and that you’ll be there every step of the way to help them deal with it. Nudification can be an extremely upsetting experience for anyone, especially young people.
FAQs
How do ‘nudify’ apps work
They use generative AI to turn an image of a clothed person into one that appears to be of the person nude, by generating synthetic content and blending it with the original image.
Can I sue over an AI nude image?
Yes, in the US you can bring a federal civil lawsuit against someone who knowingly or recklessly shares an intimate image without consent. It may also be possible to do so at a state-level. In the EU, your ability to sue will depend on exactly what national laws say.
What should I do if this impacts my child?
Be there for them with support and advice. Remind them that it isn’t their fault. And contact the relevant platforms to seek removal, as well as Google Search to have the image/page de-indexed.
How do I get a nudified image removed?
Contact the website/platform directly. And try a third-party service like StopNCII.org or Take It Down (under-18s).
What happens after I report an app to Apple or Google?
For Apple, find the app in the App Store, and use the Report a Problem service, explaining what has happened. Include as many details as possible, including the name of the app and its developer. For Google Play, open the app’s page, tap the three-dot menu, select “flag as inappropriate,” and choose the reason.
Will reporting a fake nude image make it disappear everywhere?
No, there may still be versions cached and available via internet searches. But reporting it to each platform you can view it on is the best way to minimize the exposure of AI-generated NCII. Services like StopNCII.org are particularly useful as they work across multiple sites.