Tech Transparency Project

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - How Apple and Google Make It Easy for Kids to Access Nudify AppsApple and Google prohibit nudify apps. But their app store safeguards do little to prevent young teens from finding them.

NEW: Users as young as 13 can access dozens of nudify apps on both Apple and Google phones, even when parental controls are enabled, a new TTP report finds.

NEW: Users as young as 13 can access dozens of nudify apps on both Apple and Google phones, even when parental controls are enabled, a new TTP report finds.

developer.apple.comStrengthening App Review Guidelines against nonconsensual intimate imagery and bait-and-switch apps - Latest News - Apple DeveloperThe App Review Guidelines are a core part of the safe and trusted experience that the App Store strives to offer users around the world — and the foundation of that trust is clear standards that are c...

Three days *after* TTP reached out to Apple for comment about this report, the company announced a series of policy changes designed to crack down on nudify apps.

Apple added language to its app review guidelines prohibiting apps that generate “nonconsensual intimate imagery.” It also tightened rules against apps with “hidden, dormant, or undocumented features,” such as nudify apps that hide their deepfake tools behind a paywall.

Replying to @ttp-updates.bsky.social

TTP also found that parent-supervised accounts could purchase nudify subscriptions without notifying their parents when using gift cards. When a parent-supervised account used gift cards to unlock nudify features, neither Apple nor Google alerted the parent account.

Replying to @ttp-updates.bsky.social

The app promised to digitally undress any person—to demonstrate, it showed nude images of female celebrities including Ana de Armas, Madison Beer, Sabrina Carpenter, Sydney Sweeney, Salma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson, and Zendaya. Apple has since removed the app from the App Store.

Replying to @ttp-updates.bsky.social

Both Apple and Google ban apps like this from their app stores and claim that their respective parental controls will prevent users from accessing age-inappropriate apps.

NEW: Users as young as 13 can access dozens of nudify apps on both Apple and Google phones, even when parental controls are enabled, a new TTP report finds.

Utilizing test accounts set up as 13-year-old boys, TTP identified 135 nudify apps available to young users. The apps have been downloaded 5.5 billion times and made $3.9 billion in revenue, of which both Apple and Google take a cut.

wired.comMeta-Led Anti-Terrorism Group Faces Mass Resignation of Expert AdvisersMeta and other tech giants are pushing through structural changes at the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism that outside researchers allege will weaken oversight of an already embattled consor...

The resignations followed a letter from Meta's head of content policy saying the companies were no longer receptive to scrutiny of their efforts to crack down on terrorist and extremist violence. But this scrutiny is beyond warranted, as years of TTP research has shown. A thread:

WIRED@wired.com

Six of the nine independent experts on the advisory board of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism—a consortium run by several of the biggest US tech companies—resigned on Monday, according to a letter seen by WIRED and interviews with three of the people.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - YouTube Profits Off U.S.-Sanctioned Iranians Amid Middle East ConflictThe U.S. imposes economic sanctions on an array of Iranian officials and groups. YouTube is providing channels to many of them and running ads on their videos.

TTP also found that YouTube was running ads on and profiting from 56 channels for Iranian entities that are directly sanctioned by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

news.un.orgTerrorist propaganda is outpacing global efforts to stop it, UN report findsTerrorist groups are recruiting, raising money and even planning operations through propaganda that is now “embedded” in every stage of their work, a new UN report warns – and governments are struggli...

Just a few weeks ago, the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee released a report saying that terrorists are utilizing technology to supercharge their propaganda efforts in a way that is “outpacing” efforts to stop them. Yet, tech firms are focused on shutting down scrutiny.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - X and WhatsApp Host Arms Traders Tied to HouthisArms dealers in Houthi-controlled Yemen are openly offering weapons for sale on Elon Musk’s X and Meta-owned WhatsApp.

In July 2025, TTP found that X and Meta-owned WhatsApp were hosting a thriving arms trade tied to Houthi militants in Yemen. Many of the WhatsApp accounts showed they were business accounts, specially designed to help with customer engagement.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Iranian Officials Get Premium Treatment on X Amid Protester CrackdownAn array of Iranian government officials and organizations are enjoying paid, premium service on X despite being subject to U.S. sanctions.

Amid the 2026 Iranian government protests that preceded the U.S.-Iran war, TTP found that X had been providing premium service to an array of Iranian officials, government agencies, and state-controlled media organizations targeted by U.S. sanctions.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - X Provides Premium Perks to Hezbollah, Other U.S.-Sanctioned GroupsThe U.S. imposes sanctions on individuals, groups, and countries deemed to be a threat to national security. Elon Musk’s X appears to be selling premium service to some of them.

TTP also found that X was providing premium, paid services to accounts for two leaders of Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist group, and several other organizations sanctioned by the U.S. government.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - U.S.-Sanctioned Terrorists Enjoy Premium Boost on XAccounts for sanctioned terrorists deemed a threat to U.S. national security are getting special service on X.

More than a year later, TTP found that other accounts for sanctioned terrorists deemed a threat to U.S. national security were getting special service on X—possibly putting the platform in violation of U.S. sanctions.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Meta Creates Pages for ISIS, Undermining Anti-Terrorism EffortsFacebook says it bans U.S.-designated terrorist groups. But the platform has generated more than 100 pages for groups like Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

Soon after, TTP found that Facebook had generated more than 100 pages for groups like Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Some of these pages had lingered on the platform for years, accumulating “likes” and posts with terrorist imagery.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - X Premium Accounts Spread Hamas Propaganda Videos of Attack on IsraelX has policies in place that ban terrorist propaganda. But the platform is allowing premium subscription accounts to spread graphic Hamas videos.

But Meta is not the only company that has failed to stop terrorist and extremist content. Shortly after the October 7th attack in Israel, TTP found that Elon Musk’s X was allowing premium subscription accounts to spread graphic Hamas videos.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - A Year After Capitol Riot, Facebook Remains an Extremist Breeding GroundFacebook played a key role in radicalizing people who took part in the Jan. 6 insurrection last year. The platform still hasn't cleaned up its act.

A year after the Capitol attack, TTP still found many of the same troubling patterns on Facebook, with the company continuing to overlook militant groups that pose a threat to democracy and the rule of law.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Facebook Creates Pages for Terrorists and ExtremistsFor years, Facebook has been auto-generating pages for groups like al-Qaeda and the Proud Boys. That means it’s creating content for groups involved in real-world violence.

In 2022, TTP discovered that Facebook was auto-generating pages for groups like al-Qaeda and the Proud Boys—creating content for groups involved in real-world violence.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Capitol Attack Was Months in the Making on FacebookFacebook suspended President Trump following the mob attack on Congress. But the platform allowed organizing for the pro-Trump rally, as well as the spread of conspiracy theories and militant extremis...

Weeks after the January 6 Capitol attack, TTP published a report detailing how Facebook had failed to stop the spread of conspiracy theories and militant extremism that drove the rioters.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Facebook’s Militia MessMark Zuckerberg is about to face lawmakers two months after the Capitol riot. But Facebook still hasn’t fixed its militia problem.

Months later, TTP found Facebook was not only continuing to host potentially dangerous militia groups, but in some cases was actually creating militia content and pushing it to users through its recommendation algorithm.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Facebook’s Boogaloo Problem: A Record of FailureFacebook has announced multiple crackdowns on anti-government extremists. But the company’s slow and ineffective response has allowed the movement to persist on its platform.

Although Facebook announced a supposed crackdown on the “boogaloo” groups, a follow-up months later found the company’s slow and ineffective response had allowed the movement to persist on its platform.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Facebook Ran Recruitment Ads for Militia GroupsFor years, Facebook profited from militia group ads looking to attract new recruits. The messages reached tens of thousands of users.

A few months later, TTP research revealed that Facebook profited from militia group ads looking to attract new recruits. The messages reached tens of thousands of users.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Extremists Are Using Facebook to Organize for Civil War Amid CoronavirusThe groups are fanning fears of government lockdowns as they prepare for an uprising they call the “boogaloo.”

In April 2020, as anti-government sentiment was bubbling up around Covid lockdowns, TTP discovered 125 Facebook groups devoted to the “boogaloo,” the term that far-right extremists use to describe a coming civil war.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Members of Facebook Boogaloo Groups Arrested on Terrorism-Related ChargesFacebook took no action against the groups after TTP identified them in an April report. Now three of their members are accused of planning violence at a Las Vegas protest.

Facebook initially took no action on the groups following TTP’s report. Then, three members of the groups were arrested on terrorism-related charges in what authorities say was an effort to spark a 2nd civil war by launching Molotov cocktails at protest.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Facebook's Network of HateFacebook’s “Related Pages” feature points users toward similar content to keep them engaged. But in the case of white supremacist groups, the feature can give people a pathway to more hate-filled extr...

Facebook’s Related Pages feature was actively recommending additional hate groups to people who visited one—giving people a pathway to more hate-fueled extremism.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Facebook Profits from White Supremacist GroupsWhite supremacists continue to have a home on Facebook—and the platform is generating ad revenue off them.

Two years later, we found that Facebook was not only still hosting content for over 100 white supremacist groups, it was actively generating ad revenue off them.

WIRED@wired.com

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - A Year Later, Christchurch Attack Videos Still on FacebookFacebook said it was removing videos of the New Zealand massacre. But 12 months later, they’re still available on the social network.

In March 2020, one of TTP’s first reports showed how videos of the live-streamed mass shooting at a pair of mosques in Christchurch New Zealand could still be found on Facebook a year after the attack.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - White Supremacist Groups Are Thriving on FacebookFacebook says hate groups aren’t allowed on the platform. But white supremacists are using the social network to build their movement.

TTP research from May 2020 found that dozens of white supremacist groups were operating freely on Facebook, allowing them to spread their message and recruit new members.

techtransparencyproject.orgTTP - Meta Ran Hundreds of Paid Ads with Child Sexual Abuse ImageryTTP has found more than 300 ads with child sexual abuse material that ran on Facebook and Instagram. Some include images of real children.

NEW: A TTP investigation found that Meta ran hundreds of ads containing AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Facebook and Instagram.

The ad directed users to a virtual private network app in the Google Play Store. The implication is that the VPN can be used to view child sexual abuse material. The app showed it has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.

wired.comMeta Failed to Catch Hundreds of AI Child Abuse Ads. Some Included Images of Real KidsImages of real children—including a member of a European royal family—were used to create some of the 350 ads containing child sexual abuse. Lawmakers say they plan to investigate.

When asked about the findings by @mattburgess1.bsky.social at @wired.com, “Meta minimized the findings by saying that the AI-generated videos featured adults and the clips of the minors were brief or blurred, which made detection of the content more difficult.”

NEW: A TTP investigation found that Meta ran hundreds of ads containing AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Facebook and Instagram.

TTP also found several CSAM ads placed by Meta ad partners in China. These so-called resellers are hand-picked by Meta to place ads on behalf of Chinese customers on Facebook and Instagram—allowing Meta to access Chinese ad dollars even though its platforms are banned in China.

One of these Chinese resellers—which ran an ad featuring a girl naked from the waist down in a sexual position—was once featured by Meta as a “success story,” with Meta boasting that the firm "helps clients enhance brand awareness, expand market share, and increase sales..."

NEW: A TTP investigation found that Meta ran hundreds of ads containing AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Facebook and Instagram.

wired.comMeta Ran Ads That Contained AI-Generated Child Sexual Abuse ImageryMore than 50 offending image and video ads were published across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, or Threads, according to Meta’s ad library data. Some ran as recently as this week.

After TTP shared an initial batch of 53 CSAM ads with Wired in August, Meta said it had recently rolled out new systems to better detect child exploitation. But TTP found hundreds of new CSAM ads ran after Meta boasted about its new technology.

The majority of the ads in TTP's latest investigation directed users to AI image- and video-generator apps from Chinese developers. TTP verified that many of these apps were capable of “nudifying” people or putting them into sex videos.

NEW: A TTP investigation found that Meta ran hundreds of ads containing AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on Facebook and Instagram.