Hundreds of Apps on Apple and Google Stores Hid a Network of Abusive Deepfake Tools
Written by AI from digitaltrends.com's report. Not checked by a person.
A WIRED investigation exposed hundreds of apps on Apple's App Store and Google Play — disguised as pet-photo editors and workout coaches — that secretly generated sexual and violent deepfakes, part of a broader network of 400+ connected apps and domains that prompted Apple to remove 19 apps and Google to pull at least one with over 100,000 downloads.
Researchers from AI Forensics, working with WIRED, uncovered a coordinated network of more than 400 connected apps and domains that concealed a hidden layer for generating sexually abusive and violent deepfakes. Hundreds of those apps were available directly on Apple's App Store and Google Play, where they presented themselves as legitimate services — pet-portrait tools, language tutors, AI workout coaches — and passed platform safety reviews. Once installed, each app contacted a remote server that checked user signals, including location, device identifiers, and whether the user had arrived via a Meta advertisement. Users meeting certain criteria would see the hidden interface, which offered dozens of explicit deepfake templates allowing real photos to be inserted into explicit or threatening scenes. One popular app alone exceeded 100,000 downloads before Google pulled it, and it carried an all-ages rating. WIRED traced the network largely to Chinese developers and a Hong Kong company called KeLing Technology Limited, which deleted its online presence after being contacted. Following disclosure, Apple removed 19 apps — including the pet-portrait app Viefur — and updated App Store policies to explicitly ban nudifying and bait-and-switch applications. Meta had already banned KeLing from advertising in 2025 and subsequently took action against 11,600 related ad accounts, 5,200 users, and blocked 209 apps tied to the scheme.
