How "Nudify" Apps Turn Social Media Photos into Non-Consensual Imagery

A joint investigation by WIRED and Indicator has identified reported deepfake sexual abuse incidents in approximately 90 schools worldwide, impacting over 600 students. Since 2023, students in at least 28 countries have been caught using generative AI to create sexualised images of their classmates.

Ordinary images shared on Instagram and Snapchat, the report found, are increasingly being used as raw material for "nudify" apps—AI-powered tools creating a global surge in non-consensual deepfake abuse.

Many incidents never reach the press, and schools often handle them quietly. Some research suggests the problem may already be far larger. A survey by UNICEF estimates that around 1.2 million children had sexual deepfakes created of them last year.

What are Nudify apps?

Nudify apps use generative AI to create fake nude images or videos that appear real enough to spread quickly through group chats and messaging apps. Within hours, manipulated images can circulate across entire schools.

For the girls targeted, the impact runs far beyond embarrassment. Many describe in the report feeling violated and constantly anxious about who might have seen the images or where they could surface next.