Apple has taken a fresh swing at App Store safety. In an announcement made over the weekend, the company added a provision to its developer guidelines that outright bans software using artificial intelligence to generate inappropriate images — particularly apps that conceal their true identity during the review process.

The tactic in question is well known: a developer presents their product to the App Store review team as a completely innocent tool, and only after approval do they switch on harmful functionality through updates or server-side changes. The new rule closes exactly that loophole.

Any app with hidden features will be removed

Apple said that apps carrying hidden or undocumented capabilities not present in the approved version will be removed from the App Store entirely. The company also stressed the responsibility of platforms that host user-generated content and AI modules.

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According to a statement published on the official developer blog, such services must filter objectionable material, allow users to report disturbing content, and make it possible to block harassing accounts. Developers were warned that strict oversight mechanisms will be applied.

The other update strengthened provisions in the legal section targeting apps that facilitate human trafficking and child abuse.

Apple has long been working on store safety: it reported that last year's reviews prevented more than 150,000 apps from reaching users on grounds of fraud and abuse, and that it shut down 193,000 developer accounts.