Apple faces lawsuit after removing AI apps from App Store

Ex-Human alleges wrongful removal of its AI apps from Apple’s App Store, claiming financial losses and lack of clarity, as broader concerns grow around content moderation, competition, and platform control in the AI ecosystem.

AI startup Ex-Human has filed a lawsuit against Apple, accusing the technology giant of неправely removing its applications, Botify AI and Photify AI, from the App Store. The company claims the takedown resulted in revenue losses of approximately $500,000 and has raised concerns over the transparency of Apple’s enforcement actions.

According to reports, Ex-Human argues that Apple failed to provide clear justification for the removal, citing only general allegations of “dishonest or fraudulent activity” without specifying any violations. The startup maintains that its applications continue to operate on other platforms, including Android, and through partnerships with external services.

Dispute over moderation and competition

At the core of the dispute is Ex-Human’s claim that Apple may be restricting competition. The company alleges that its apps were targeted to limit rivalry with Apple’s own AI-driven offerings, although no direct evidence has been publicly confirmed.

The removal follows scrutiny over content hosted on Botify AI, where certain chatbots reportedly presented themselves as minors while engaging in inappropriate interactions. Ex-Human has acknowledged moderation gaps, stating that such content was not adequately filtered, but maintains that corrective actions were taken.

Photify AI has also faced criticism for enabling the generation of altered images of real individuals without consent, raising ethical and privacy concerns. These issues are believed to have contributed to Apple’s decision to delist the applications under its App Store guidelines.

Broader crackdown on AI apps

The case emerges amid a wider tightening of platform policies around artificial intelligence applications. Reports indicate that Apple has recently taken action against several AI-driven apps, particularly those that do not fully comply with its self-containment and safety requirements.

Despite the removal, Ex-Human points to its rapid growth prior to the dispute, highlighting strong monthly revenues from both applications and describing itself as a high-growth developer within Apple’s ecosystem. The company also claims high user engagement compared to other AI platforms.

The lawsuit underscores the increasing tension between platform operators and AI developers as the technology evolves. With issues such as content moderation, user safety, and competitive fairness at the forefront, the outcome of this case could have broader implications for how AI applications are governed and distributed across major digital marketplaces.