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Guideline1.1

Guideline 1.1 Rejection for AI Hug, Kiss, and Intimate Templates

§ 01What this rejection usually means

Apple looked at the template gallery of an AI photo or video app and decided that templates putting two people into physical contact are a misuse risk. The bar is not “is this sample explicit” but “could a user turn this into something explicit with someone else’s photo.”

§ 02What Apple’s wording tells you

App Review
The app references or includes features that some users may find objectionable or could be used to create objectionable content.
App Review
Specifically, the app includes templates for generating content showing people making intimate contact with each other, such as hugging, kissing, or other intimate templates. While these templates alone may not be objectionable, they could be used to create objectionable content.
App Review
To resolve this issue, remove all templates for generating content showing intimate contact.

Read the three sentences in order. The first is the guideline, the second names the exact category (hugging, kissing, other intimate contact), and the third is the fix: remove all of them. Apple also concedes the templates may be harmless on their own, which closes the door on arguing intent.

§ 03Common causes

  • Trending “AI hug”, “AI kiss”, couple, or wedding-style templates added to the gallery.
  • Templates that pair two uploaded faces or bodies into one scene.
  • Server-side catalog updates that went live after the previous approval.
  • Localized template names that hide the category from an English keyword search.
  • Free-form prompts that can describe the same contact without a template.

§ 04How to diagnose your case

  1. Export the full template catalog, including disabled, regional, and experiment-only entries.
  2. Tag every template that shows two or more people touching: hugging, kissing, cuddling, dancing close, lying together, and similar.
  3. Try to recreate a removed template with the free prompt and with two-photo uploads.
  4. Check whether the App Store listing or ads still show any of the tagged effects.

§ 05What to inspect in your project

  • Template IDs, names, and tags across every language
  • Thumbnails and preview videos on the CDN
  • Bundled fallback templates inside the app bundle
  • Remote-config switches that can restore a template group
  • Prompt blocklist and output moderation on the generation server
  • Screenshots, app preview, keywords, and in-app banners

§ 06What not to do

  • Do not keep the templates behind a region, account age, or review-time switch.
  • Do not rename “Kiss” to “Love” and resubmit.
  • Do not appeal before removing the templates. Apple has told you the fix.
  • Do not resubmit in a hurry. Extended Review makes each failed attempt more expensive.

§ 07How to fix it

  1. Delete the tagged templates from the server catalog and from any bundled fallback.
  2. Add the same categories to the prompt blocklist and to output moderation.
  3. Remove related thumbnails, banners, push copy, screenshots, and keywords.
  4. Archive a new build if anything was bundled; otherwise confirm the live catalog is clean before you reply.
  5. Reply in Resolution Center with a short, factual list of what was removed and where.

§ 08How to verify the fix

  • Fresh install on a clean device, signed out, in the reviewer’s storefront: scroll the whole gallery.
  • Search the gallery for hug, kiss, couple, and the local-language equivalents.
  • Try to generate the removed effect with a prompt and confirm it is blocked.
  • Check the App Store listing preview as a user would see it.

§ 09What evidence to prepare

  • Count of templates removed and the categories they belonged to
  • Prompt and moderation rules added
  • Before/after screenshots of the gallery
  • Note that the change applies to all users, not only review

§ 10Suggested reply to App Review

Resolution Center · Reply
Hello App Review,

Thank you for the feedback under Guideline 1.1.

We have removed all templates that generate content showing people making intimate contact, including hugging, kissing, and similar templates. The removal applies to all users and all regions.

Specifically:
- Removed [number] templates from the template catalog, including server-delivered templates
- Removed related thumbnails, previews, and App Store screenshots
- Added prompt and output moderation so this type of content cannot be generated through free-form input

Please let us know if any remaining content concerns you.

Thank you.

§ 11Should you appeal?

Not recommended. Apple named the category and the fix. An appeal only makes sense if the rejection cites templates that do not show people in contact at all.

§ 12Questions people ask next

Do group photos or family templates count?
Apple’s wording is “intimate contact”. Two people standing side by side is usually fine; embraces, kisses, and lying together are not. When unsure, remove it for this submission.
Can I add the templates back after approval?
No. Adding them back after review is the behavior that leads to DPLA 3.2(f) account termination.

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