Apple Warns of Safety Risks as Porn App Bypasses App Store in the EU
AFP
Apple has raised alarms over the availability of a pornography app on iPhones in the European Union, calling it a potential danger to children.
The app, called Hot Tub, bypasses Apple’s App Store and is available through AltStore PAL, an alternative marketplace that has emerged due to new European regulations.
Apple had long maintained strict control over its App Store, making it the only official way to distribute digital content to its mobile devices.
However, last year, the European Union enacted the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which forces tech companies to allow developers to use other ways of distributing and monetizing their apps. As a result, Apple has loosened its grip on the App Store in the EU, giving users the option to access alternative app marketplaces.
The Hot Tub app, described by AltStore as “the first Apple-approved porn app,” was able to pass through Apple’s review process for security and functionality. Despite this, Apple emphasized that it does not approve of the app and would never allow it on the App Store, expressing deep concerns about the safety risks it poses, particularly to children.
The app made its way to AltStore PAL, which was launched in early 2024 as an alternative to the App Store. Riley Testut, the creator of AltStore, noted in a blog post that the platform aims to support smaller, independent apps that might not meet Apple’s App Store standards.
AltStore initially charged a small subscription fee but made access free in August after receiving financial backing from Epic Games, which has had a longstanding legal battle with Apple over App Store policies.
Apple has stressed that it is legally required by the European Commission to allow distribution of apps like Hot Tub through marketplaces like AltStore.
The company shared its concerns about the app with the European Commission in December, noting that sideloading apps from third-party sources increases the risk of exposing users to dangerous or deceptive digital content.
