Apple Says It Doesn't Approve of EU Porn App

Apple does not approve of the "Hot Tub" pornography app that was released for the iPhone in the EU using alternative app distribution, Apple said in a statement to MacRumors. Further, Apple is concerned about the potential user safety risks with a pornography app, and says that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem.

App Store vs EU Feature 2

We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world. 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. The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety.

Apple's statement references the first native iOS pornography app that is available through AltStore, an alternative app marketplace in the European Union. Apple is required to allow app marketplaces in the EU by the Digital Markets Act, and Apple has little control over the kinds of apps that are distributed through the marketplaces.

In marketing for the app, AltStore referred to Hot Tub as "the first Apple-approved porn app," and Apple has taken issue with the wording. While all apps distributed outside of the App Store in the EU have to go through Apple's Notarization process, it only checks for malware, fraud, and other egregious issues. Notarization does not limit content, and apps sideloaded on the ‌iPhone‌ in the EU can have pornography, references to drugs and alcohol, hate speech, and other content that would not be permitted under the ‌App Store‌ rules.


Apple's Notarization guidelines actually prohibit apps from implying that Apple "endorses any particular representation regarding quality or functionality" of any app or app marketplace in the EU, so AltStore has seemingly violated Apple's Notarization rules.

Apple wants to make it clear that the Hot Tub pornography app is available because European Commission has forced Apple to allow AltStore and other alternative app marketplaces to exist in the EU, even though Apple has warned multiple times that the DMA would make objectionable, harmful, and illicit content available to consumers.

Apple says that it expressed concerns about the upcoming pornography app in December, but the European Commission hasn't made a move to stop it from being distributed.

Update: Following Apple's statement, Epic Games has clarified that it does not offer Hot Tub or other porn apps through the ‌Epic Games‌ Store in the EU. For clarity, ‌Epic Games‌ did give AltStore a "MegaGrant" that allows it to distribute apps like Hot Tub for free.

Popular Stories

iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Will Include These New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday February 5, 2025 7:15 am PST by
iOS 18.3 was released last month, so the first iOS 18.4 beta should be coming soon. iOS 18.4 is expected to be a more substantial update for the iPhone, with several new features and changes related to Apple Intelligence and beyond. Apple's website suggests that iOS 18.4 will be released in April, following beta testing. Below, we outline what to expect from the update so far. Apple...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive an All-New Perk

Thursday February 6, 2025 11:21 am PST by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. iCloud+ is the official name for Apple's paid iCloud storage plans, which range from 50GB for $0.99 per month to 12TB for $59.99 per month in the United States. iCloud+ plans already come with multiple perks for free, such as Hide My Email and HomeKit Secure Video, and now there is another one...
maxresdefault

An Apple TV Refresh is Coming in 2025 - Here's What You Should Know

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:17 am PST by
Apple hasn't refreshed the Apple TV since 2022, but rumors suggest that we're finally going to get an update in 2025. We don't have a full picture of what to expect yet, but we have some hints on what's coming. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Updated A-Series Chip The current Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip that was in the iPhone 13 lineup, and it's time for...
iPhone SE 4 Single Camera Thumb

iPhone SE 4 Launching as Soon as Next Week

Thursday February 6, 2025 3:30 pm PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could debut as soon as next week with a launch to follow later in February, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple isn't expected to hold an event for the iPhone SE 4, and will instead unveil the device through a press release. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have an iPhone 14-style design, with Apple eliminating the thick bezels and Touch ID Home button of...
iOS 18

iOS 18.3.1 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Thursday February 6, 2025 7:31 am PST by
Apple is internally testing iOS 18.3.1 for iPhones, according to our website's analytics logs, which have been a consistently reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. The software update should be released within the next few weeks. iOS 18.3.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. Apple Intelligence notification summaries for news and...
iCloud General Feature Redux

Apple Ordered by UK to Create Global iCloud Encryption Backdoor

Friday February 7, 2025 2:37 am PST by
The British government has secretly demanded that Apple give it blanket access to all encrypted user content uploaded to the cloud, reports The Washington Post. The undisclosed order is said to have been issued last month, and requires that Apple creates a back door that allows UK security officials unencumbered access to encrypted user data worldwide – an unprecedented demand not before...
disney

Disney+ Loses 700,000 Subscribers Following Price Increase

Wednesday February 5, 2025 3:34 pm PST by
Disney+ lost 700,000 subscribers worldwide in recent months, according to Disney's earnings results for the first quarter of 2025. Disney said it now has 124.6 million Disney+ subscribers, a decrease of 0.7 million compared to its subscriber numbers in the fourth quarter of 2024. The drop in subscribers comes after Disney+ prices increased in the fall. Disney+ with Ads went from $7.99 to...
Apple Leak Feature

Apple Leaker Issues Apology: 'Profound and Expensive Mistake'

Friday February 7, 2025 9:21 am PST by
Last year, we reported that Apple sued its former software engineer Andrew Aude for providing journalists with confidential information about the company's future plans, including details about the Journal app, Vision Pro headset, and more. As reported by 9to5Mac, the Superior Court of Santa Clara County on Thursday dismissed the lawsuit after Apple and Aude reached an agreement to resolve...

Top Rated Comments

Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
5 days ago at 01:21 pm

They are absolutely right though. Apple has developed a safe and closed environment, but then came the EU and it took the safety enitrely away. Which honestly is strange since the DSA would limit an App Store making Porn Apps available to children.
Yeah nothing like this can be access via safari at all.
Score: 67 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SanderEvers Avatar
5 days ago at 01:19 pm

Just stop Apple

Jeebus ... this statment is not needed

If anything you're bringing more attention to the porn app and third party marketplaces that allow users more freedom on how they use their iOS devices
They are absolutely right though. Apple has developed a safe and closed environment, but then came the EU and it took the safety enitrely away. Which honestly is strange since the DSA would limit an App Store making Porn Apps available to children.
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
5 days ago at 01:16 pm
Apple, this statement is not needed

If anything you're bringing more attention to the porn app and third party marketplaces that allow users more freedom on how they use their iOS devices
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SanderEvers Avatar
5 days ago at 01:23 pm

Yeah nothing like this can be access via safari at all.
Not if you actually take the time to set up child protection on the device. Protection that Apple can enforce in Safari or their App Store. But not in third party app stores or browsers. And this is exactly the point here!!!


adults should be allowed to enjoy what they want. It’s like saying driving a car is bad because a toddler might accidentally get locked inside a car by themselves.
If a kid starts driving a car then they are quickly arested. So there is an (external) protection here. Exactly what Apple wants in their devices.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DBZmusicboy01 Avatar
5 days ago at 01:21 pm
adults should be allowed to enjoy what they want. It’s like saying driving a car is bad because a toddler might accidentally get locked inside a car by themselves.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
I7guy Avatar
5 days ago at 01:30 pm
Good for you apple for not sweeping this under the rug.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)