TL;DR
John Gruber responds to Elizabeth Lopatto’s critique that Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai have been cowardly for not removing apps tied to deepfake harassment. Gruber agrees the platforms are culpable but argues their reluctance reflects a rational fear of confronting presidential power under Trump rather than mere timidity before Elon Musk.
What happened
John Gruber published a reaction piece to Elizabeth Lopatto’s Verge column accusing Apple and Google leaders of timidity after reports that X users and Grok were being used to create deepfake 'undressing' images of women and children. Lopatto calls for app-store removals; Gruber accepts that Apple and Google share responsibility but reframes the calculus: he argues the greater deterrent to decisive action is not Musk’s influence but President Trump’s extraordinary power and willingness to wield it. Gruber cites recent events he says have reshaped that balance — including Trump’s May 2024 felony convictions and a loss in a civil sexual‑assault case — to argue that the presidency today overshadows corporate influence. He urges a middle path: companies should enforce App Store and Play Store rules, remove offending apps when appropriate, and compel public and legal defense from those who object, rather than preemptively capitulating or precipitating open confrontation.
Why it matters
- App-store enforcement decisions shape how effectively mobile platforms limit tools that can enable harassment and deepfakes.
- Gruber frames the hesitation of major tech companies as driven by political risk tied to presidential power, not solely corporate self-interest.
- Choosing whether to remove apps sets precedents for how firms balance legal compliance, user safety, and resistance to political pressure.
- How Apple and Google act could force public accountability from app owners and political actors through legal and public disputes.
Key facts
- Elizabeth Lopatto wrote a Verge piece accusing Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai of cowardice over app-store choices.
- Lopatto cited reports that X users and Grok were being used to create deepfake images that undress women and children.
- Gruber acknowledges corporate culpability but argues the real deterrent is fear of President Trump rather than fear of Elon Musk.
- Gruber references Trump’s May 2024 conviction on 34 felonies and a prior civil loss to E. Jean Carroll to illustrate Trump’s current power, as described in the column.
- Gruber urges Apple and Google to enforce App Store and Play Store guidelines and remove apps being used to generate abusive deepfakes or CSAM.
- He points to Disney’s response to a previous controversy as an example of defending company principles while avoiding destructive confrontation.
- Gruber contends the correct corporate posture is to stand behind the law and rules rather than preemptive compliance with political pressure.
- The piece names a specific victim referenced by Lopatto: a degrading Grok-generated image of Renée Nicole Good, identified as a mother who was shot by ICE in Minneapolis.
What to watch next
- Whether Apple and Google will move to remove X, Grok, or other apps cited as enabling deepfakes and CSAM (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether app owners such as Musk or political actors including the White House will publicly challenge or litigate any app-store removals (not confirmed in the source).
- Regulatory or legal responses that might arise if platforms take enforcement actions against apps linked to deepfake harassment (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Grok: A named AI chatbot or service referenced in reporting as being used to generate manipulated images; specific technical details are not provided in the source.
- Deepfake: Synthetic media—often images or video—generated or altered with AI to misrepresent people, sometimes used for harassment or deception.
- App Store / Play Store: Mobile application distribution platforms operated by Apple and Google, respectively, that host apps and enforce developer guidelines.
- CSAM: Acronym for child sexual abuse material; the source mentions concerns about apps being used to create CSAM and deepfake harassment.
- ICE: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal agency referenced in the source in relation to a named individual.
Reader FAQ
Have Apple and Google removed X or Grok from their app stores?
Not confirmed in the source.
Does Gruber blame the CEOs entirely for the apps remaining available?
Gruber says Apple and Google share culpability but argues their decisions are shaped by fear of presidential power rather than only by Musk.
Are there documented examples of Grok-generated deepfakes mentioned?
The source references reports of Grok being used to create undressing images and cites a degrading image of Renée Nicole Good.
Does the piece call for immediate removal of the apps?
Gruber urges enforcement of store guidelines and removal of apps used to generate abusive deepfakes or CSAM, advocating a principled middle path.
By JOHN GRUBER ARCHIVE THE TALK SHOW DITHERING PROJECTS CONTACT COLOPHON FEEDS / SOCIAL SPONSORSHIP Copilot Money — The Apple Editor’s Choice money tracker. Now also on the web. ‘Fuck You, Make Me’…
Sources
- 'F*ck You, Make Me' Without Saying the Words
- Hey Brendan Carr, Try Censoring This
- Tech CEOs: Who's the Meanest of Them All | by Adrian Booth
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