Whether you’re a victim, the parent of a victim, or just concerned, here’s what you can do about fake nude images.

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 a platform remove the content 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.
  • Audit your public image footprint: Review what images of you or your family are publicly available online beyond social media accounts. The more scammers have to work with, the easier it will be for them to feed images into a ‘nudify’ app.
  • Practice strong account security: Use unique passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA), and apply automatic updates for apps and device OS.
  • Be cautious with image uploads: 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: Discuss nudify apps and the dangers associated with weak account security, poor privacy settings, and oversharing images on social media.
  • Keep communication open: 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. The study identified 181 websites offering such tools, which received 40 million unique visitors per month. Millions more visitors arrived via social media platforms including 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 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 be taken down. There are third-party services like StopNCII.org that can also help by alerting their member platforms when there is an issue with an AI-generated nude, using a unique hash system. 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 the state level. In the EU, your ability to sue will depend on what national laws specifically 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. Contact the relevant platforms to seek removal, and request that Google de-index the image or page from search results.

How do I get a nudified image removed?

Contact the website or platform directly. You can also use a third-party service like StopNCII.org or Take It Down (for those under 18).

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. Reporting it to each platform where it appears is the best way to minimize exposure. Services like StopNCII.org are particularly useful as they work across multiple sites simultaneously.