Apple Condemns EU Policy as “Hot Tub” Porn App Appears on iPhones

Apple has strongly criticised the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) after a pornography app became available on iPhones through an alternative app store. The tech giant argues that the policy is eroding consumer trust and exposing users, especially minors, to harmful content.

Since launching the App Store in 2008, Apple has maintained strict control over app distribution on its devices. In 2010, then-CEO Steve Jobs emphasised Apple’s “moral responsibility” to keep pornography off iPhones. However, the DMA, enacted in 2022, required Apple to permit third-party app stores in the EU, weakening its gatekeeper role.

One such marketplace, AltStore, has started distributing Hot Tub, an app that promotes itself as a “private, secure, and elegant way to browse adult content.” Apple responded with concern, stating:

“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 Raises Alarming Concerns About Hot Tub App

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Apple has noted that Hot Tub includes a “teen” channel. The platform also features content from Pornhub, which has admitted to unlawful monetary transactions related to sex trafficking. Pornhub is currently under a three-year monitoring agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Apple also condemned AltStore for falsely suggesting that Apple approved Hot Tub. The company highlighted that the European Commission prevents Apple from stopping such content from appearing on alternative marketplaces. Additionally, Apple cited its own guidelines, which prohibit any implication that Apple endorses third-party applications:

  • Notarization Guideline 5.2.4(a): “Don’t suggest or imply that Apple is a source or supplier of the App, or that Apple endorses any particular representation regarding quality or functionality.”
  • AEUTA 2.3(G): Alternative app marketplaces must not infringe Apple’s intellectual property or mislead consumers into believing Apple sponsors or endorses their platform or applications.

Apple’s Prior Warnings and Epic Games’ Role

Apple claims it raised concerns about Hot Tub with the European Commission as early as December 2023, but regulators did not oppose its distribution. The company has long warned that sideloading apps onto iPhones would introduce “dangerous, deceptive, and dubious apps” into the ecosystem.

Apple also pointed to AltStore’s financial backing from Epic Games, which has been a vocal critic of Apple’s app policies. Epic previously provided AltStore with a “MegaGrant,” allowing it to remove subscription fees and make apps like Hot Tub widely accessible in the EU.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney defended the DMA, arguing that Apple has historically misused its power to suppress competition. However, he clarified that Epic’s own EU-based app store does not distribute Hot Tub or any pornography-related apps.

Apple’s Broader Criticism of the EU’s DMA Policy

Apple has long expressed concerns that the DMA would weaken security protections for iPhone users. The company’s March 2024 white paper warned about the impact of the new regulations. It stated that Apple would no longer be able to block apps containing explicit content, illegal substances, or pirated material. A January 2024 press release similarly cautioned that Apple would have “less ability to address risks including scams, fraud, and abuse, or exposure to illicit, objectionable, or harmful content.”

Source: Reuters, Apple

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