Apple recently issued a statement to clarify its stance on the “Hot Tub” porn app, which has become available on iPhones in the European Union under the DMA regulations. The tech giant emphasized that it did not approve the app and expressed serious concerns regarding user safety, especially that of children.
Pornography and the DMA
The controversy unfolded rapidly. “Hot Tub” is a pornographic app that can be downloaded via AltStore, a third-party platform that allows apps to be installed outside of Apple’s App Store. At its launch, AltStore billed “Hot Tub” as the first porn app approved by Apple.
This claim sparked immediate outrage within Apple, which quickly denied any such endorsement!
Apple, which has consistently prohibited pornographic apps on its App Store, defended itself by stating it had nothing to do with the app and certainly did not authorize or endorse it. The company pointed fingers at the responsible parties: the European Commission and the DMA, with the former using the latter to compel Apple to allow sideloading.
Apple has always criticized this forced openness, claiming it jeopardizes user security and trust. The availability of this app is a prime example.
We are deeply concerned about the security risks that pornographic apps like this pose to EU users, especially children. This app—and others like it—undermine consumer trust in the ecosystem, which we have worked over a decade to make the best in the world. Contrary to the developer’s false claims, we certainly do not approve this app and would never offer it through our App Store. The truth is that we are compelled by the European Commission to allow its distribution by market operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety– Apple
Misleading Communication
Apple has called out AltStore for misleading communication. In reality, Cupertino did notarize the app—a process meant to check for malware or fraud—but this does not mean it validated the app’s content. Unlike the App Store, apps distributed by third-party markets may contain adult content, including pornography, drug and alcohol references, or hate speech.
Apple also reminds that its notarization guidelines prohibit developers from suggesting official endorsement. By labeling “Hot Tub” as an Apple-approved native app
, AltStore may have somewhat overstepped these boundaries.
The Ball is in the Commission’s Court
Apple voiced concerns as early as December 2024 about the introduction of pornographic apps on the iPhone. However, the European Commission reportedly took no action to prevent this distribution.
For the California-based company, this situation highlights the risks of the openness imposed by the DMA. Furthermore, it does not hesitate to warn its users about a less secure environment, where potentially harmful content becomes accessible to consumers. And, of course, to underscore the benefits of the App Store!