Key takeaways:

• Apple has expressed strong concerns about a new pornography app called Hot Tub available in the EU.
• The app is accessible through the alternative app store AltStore, highlighting changes brought by the EU's Digital Markets Act.
• Apple argues that the app undermines consumer trust and poses safety risks, particularly for kids.
• AltStore claims the app is "Apple-approved," a statement Apple strongly refutes.

Apple Inc. has publicly criticized the availability of a newly launched pornography app called Hot Tub on iPhones within the European Union. This controversy arises amidst regulatory changes dictated by the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which has compelled Apple to permit alternative app marketplaces to operate, undermining its long-held exclusive control over app distribution. Previously, Apple had successfully enforced strict policies that prohibited adult content in its App Store, a point emphasized by former CEO Steve Jobs, who regarded it as a moral responsibility.

The Hot Tub app is distributed through AltStore, an alternative marketplace that has emerged as a result of the DMA. AltStore recently announced the app as "the world's first Apple-approved porn app," a claim that has drawn ire from Apple. In their communication, Apple has clarified, "We certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store." The company voiced its concerns regarding the safety risks posed by hardcore pornography apps for EU users, especially children, stating these developments could significantly undermine consumer trust in its ecosystem. Apple has been compelled to comply with new regulations, stating, "The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed."

While AltStore maintains that Hot Tub has passed Apple's security review process known as "notarization," Apple and its representatives have criticized the app's implications for user safety. They continue to advocate that allowing users to download apps from third-party stores exposes them to potential threats. Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite and a vocal opponent of Apple's app store policies, supports AltStore and has been actively involved in litigation against Apple regarding their app distribution practices.

As Apple expressed, "We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users." This situation marks a significant shift in Apple's approach to app regulation, as it adjusts to the evolving landscape driven by new European regulations. The company has previously argued that loosened restrictions could lead to the proliferation of unsavory content, stressing the need for consumer safety and trust.

For further details, read more at Reuters, SCMP, AP News, and Business Insider.