Apple has been consistent in not allowing pornography into the App Store. But changes in the EU have allowed independent app stores to arrive and these have their own views on what’s permissible. So, the arrival of the first porn app in the AltStore PAL store has caused a commotion—and Apple has taken the rare step of commenting.
Porn app Hot Tub has been allowed onto the iPhone.
The app is called Hot Tub and launched on Monday, Feb. 3 in the AltStore PAL app store from developer Riley Testut and is described as an adult content browser. Apps in these alternative app stores in the EU require notarization rather than the full approval process usually applied.
AltStore PAL “says they didn’t have any issues getting the app approved, though that’s likely because Apple has often used pornography as an example of the kind of app they now must allow under the DMA,” Tech Crunch reports.
Since marketing suggested that the app had been approved, Apple has pushed back forcefully. The company sent me a statement.
“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 says.
In other words, reaching the standard for notarization is emphatically not the same as Apple approving the app in the way it normally would.
The app is described as an “adult content browser” which allows users to play videos from websites such as Pornhub and XHamster, for instance.
However, Apple pointed out to me that the app includes a “teen” channel with content from Pornhub. It also noted that AltStore is funded by Epic Games.
The developer says it’s “an elegant, native porn app. Thoughfully designed, ethically made and free to use.”
As with other issues now the EU has different App Store rules, governments around the world, including the U.S. and the U.K., will be watching closely.
