A Tech Transparency Project (TTP) investigation published April 15–16 found Apple’s App Store and Google Play are not only hosting so-called “nudify” apps—AI tools that strip clothing from photos or generate pornographic deepfakes—but their search, autocomplete and paid-ad systems are directing users to them. TTP identified roughly 18 apps on Apple’s store and about 20 on Google Play; the apps have been downloaded an estimated 483 million times and earned some $122 million in lifetime revenue. Nearly 40% of top search results for terms like “nudify,” “undress” or “AI NSFW” returned apps with nudifying capabilities, and some were rated suitable for minors. Both platforms ran sponsored results for such apps; TTP said autocomplete suggestions amplified discovery. Apple removed 15 apps after the report and Google suspended several, while both companies say they enforce policies banning sexual content. The findings come amid growing legal scrutiny in the US, UK and elsewhere over explicit deepfakes and non-consensual sexual imagery, and follow earlier enforcement tussles involving high-profile AI services.

YouTube has rolled out a new time-management option that lets users effectively remove Shorts from their mobile app by setting a daily Shorts limit to zero minutes. The change expands a Shorts timer first introduced in October — which previously had a 15-minute minimum — and is live for parental accounts and currently rolling out to regular Android and iOS users, according to reports from The Verge and multiple outlets on April 15–16, 2026. When set to zero, the Shorts tab and short-form videos disappear from the Home feed and are replaced by a “you reached your Shorts feed limit” message; users can still access Shorts via Subscriptions or direct links. Parental controls are stricter: limits set through Google Family Link cannot be bypassed. The setting is available in YouTube app Settings > Time management > Shorts feed limit, and may take time to appear for all accounts as the rollout continues.

The European Commission on April 15–16 announced an EU-developed age verification app that is "technically ready" and will be rolled out to help prevent minors accessing age-restricted online content. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and digital chief Henna Virkkunen said the open-source tool uses privacy-preserving cryptography (zero-knowledge proofs) and will let users set up a verifiable age credential with a passport or national ID without sharing personal data with platforms. Seven member states that piloted the system — including France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Cyprus and Ireland — are expected to integrate the app into national digital wallets. The Commission said platforms can rely on the app to meet Digital Services Act (DSA) requirements and warned of enforcement, including fines for non-compliance. Officials acknowledge the app may be bypassed by VPNs or shared credentials but said it remains a practical barrier to unintended exposure of children to porn, gambling and other harmful content. A special EU expert panel on children's online safety will issue recommendations by summer 2026.

Google on April 15, 2026, released a native Gemini app for macOS, bringing its flagship AI assistant to desktops with system-level integration. The Swift-built app runs on macOS 15 (Sequoia) and up, is available globally and can be summoned anywhere with a default Option+Space shortcut (Option+Shift+Space opens the full chat). Gemini can inspect shared windows and local files after user permission, summarize documents and charts, draft text, debug code and generate images and video via Google’s Nano Banana and Veo models. The client offers menu bar and Dock access, configurable shortcuts, memory and connected-app controls, and parity with mobile/web features; free access is available with expanded usage behind Google AI subscription tiers. Google said the Mac app was developed rapidly and follows a Windows release; the company frames it as the start of a “personal, proactive” desktop assistant. The launch comes ahead of planned deeper Gemini integration into Apple Intelligence and the next Siri revamp under a Google-Apple collaboration announced earlier this year.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer summoned senior executives from Meta, Google (YouTube), TikTok, X and Snap to Downing Street on April 16, 2026, to press them on measures to protect children online. The meeting, joined by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and attended by UK representatives including Google UK managing director Kate Alessi, Meta public policy chief Markus Reinisch, X director Wifredo Fernandez, TikTok’s Alistair Law and Snap’s Ronan Harris, came amid a national consultation — Growing Up in the Online World — that closes on May 26. The government is weighing options from limits on “addictive” design features, curfews and parental controls to a potential ban on under‑16s, following Australia’s December 2025 ban. Number 10 said some firms have already introduced steps such as disabling autoplay for children and enhanced parental controls. Starmer warned the status quo is unacceptable and said ministers are prepared to act “within months, not years.” Campaigners and experts, including the Molly Rose Foundation and university digital mental‑health researchers, urged stronger regulation; industry figures warned blanket bans could push youngsters to unsupervised corners of the internet. Parliamentary debate continues after MPs rejected Lords attempts to impose an immediate under‑16 ban.