Joseph Isangura
Apple has voiced strong opposition to the emergence of a pornography app on iPhones in the European Union, blaming the shift on new digital regulations imposed by the bloc.
The company argues that the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law designed to increase competition in the tech industry, is now forcing it to allow apps it would otherwise prohibit—undermining consumer trust in its ecosystem.
For years, Apple has maintained strict control over the apps available on its devices. Since the launch of the App Store in 2008, the company has positioned itself as a gatekeeper, curating what apps users can access. In 2010, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs famously defended this approach, stating that keeping pornography off iPhones was a “moral responsibility.”
However, Apple’s control changed with the implementation of the DMA in 2022, which compelled the company to open its ecosystem to alternative app stores. One of those, called AltStore, has recently made waves by distributing an app called Hot Tub, which describes itself as “a private, secure, and elegant way to browse adult content.”
The move has triggered a sharp response from Apple. “We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially children,” the company said in a statement. “This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem.”
AltStore is financially backed by Epic Games, the creator of “Fortnite” and one of Apple’s most vocal critics in the fight against its App Store policies. The funding has allowed AltStore to pay fees Apple charges to third-party app platforms—fees that are now under scrutiny by EU regulators.
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Despite its objections, Apple was still required to allow Hot Tub to be distributed under the new regulatory framework. The company’s only remaining control in such cases is a process called “notarization,” a security check that scans apps for cybersecurity threats, such as malware, but does not evaluate content.
AltStore, however, capitalized on this process, taking to social media to claim that Hot Tub had become “the world’s first Apple-approved porn app.” This framing angered Apple, which quickly fired back. “Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store,” Apple said. “The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed.”
