400+ Apps on Apple and Google Stores Hid Abusive Deepfake Tools
A damning investigation published by WIRED on November 2, 2026, exposed a sprawling network of more than 400 interconnected apps and web domains. The services disguised tools for generating sexually abusive and violent AI deepfakes as innocent-looking apps, including pet photo editors, language tutors, and AI workout coaches.
The apps passed review processes and appeared on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Under certain conditions, they quietly switched to a hidden web interface capable of generating explicit and threatening images and videos from users’ uploaded photos.
Researchers from AI Forensics and Infoblox traced the network primarily to Chinese-language infrastructure and a Hong Kong entity called KeLing Technology Limited, which scrubbed its online presence after being contacted. The investigation also found that tens of thousands of explicit deepfake ads linked to the network had been running on Meta’s platforms since the start of the year.
After WIRED shared its findings:
- Apple removed 19 apps from the App Store, including the pet-portrait app Viefur.
- Meta took action against 11,600 ad accounts and 15,000 pages.
- One app, DiffAI, reportedly surpassed 100,000 downloads before its removal.
Experts warn that enforcement has so far failed to keep pace with the threat.