EU’s AltStore Gets Its First Native iPhone Porno App, and Apple Is Not Pleased!

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The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires Apple to allow developers to distribute their iOS apps through alternative app marketplaces. While Apple still checks the apps to ensure they don’t contain malware or other types of malicious content, the Cupertino firm doesn’t put any restrictions on content like it does in its official App Store. This has led to the first widely-available native pornography app being available for the iPhone.
The new app, called “Hot Tub,” is available in the AltStore PAL, an EU app marketplace from developer Riley Testut. The app claims to be a private and secure way to browse “brown chicken, brown cow” content with no ads or tracking. The app allows users to search for and play videos from several adult websites, like PornHub and others. While the app is free, there is a “pro” subscription available.
Hot Tub is currently available as a beta and is available to all users in the European Union. US iPhone users will not have access to the app, as sideloading is not available in the US.
Apps that contain sexual content or pornographic materials are banned from the official App Store, meaning an app like Hot Tub would not be available without the alternative app distribution methods required by the EU’s DMA. Outside of the European Union, fans of adult content need to use their device’s browser to access adult sites.
While Apple still checks apps offered through alternative app stores for malware, security issues, and fraud, the apps are not required to follow App Store content rules that prohibit porn and other content such as weapons, tobacco, hate speech, alcohol, and other iffy things.
Last year, Apple’s Phil Schiller made it clear that Apple could not control the content offered in EU apps distributed through outside app stores.
We have dealt with a lot of input from families, from governments, on things that we need to do to try to either not allow certain kinds of objectionable content on our App Store, or give users control over that experience to decide what’s best for themselves — and we have rules around that. Those rules will not apply in another marketplace unless they choose to make rules of their own, [with] whatever criteria they come up with. Does that increase the risk of users, and families, running into objectionable content or other experiences? Yes, it does.
Phil Schiller, Apple Fellow
Apple said in a statement to MacRumors that it is concerned about the potential user safety risks of a pornography app and that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem.
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
AltStore’s marketing for the app refers to it as “the first Apple-approved porn app,” and as you might imagine, Apple has taken issue with that phrasing.
Apple’s Notarization guidelines prohibit apps from implying that Apple “endorses any particular representation regarding quality or functionality” of any app or app marketplace in the EU, meaning it appears that AltStore has violated Apple’s rules. It remains to be seen what Apple will do about that, but its notarization process makes it possible for the company to revoke its signature and thereby prevent an app from being installed on iOS devices even when done through an alternative app marketplace.