Apple Raises Concerns Over EU’s Digital Policy After Porn App Appears on iPhones

Apple has expressed concerns regarding the availability of a pornography app on iPhones in the European Union, highlighting how the bloc’s new digital regulations are eroding consumer confidence in its devices. The app, called Hot Tub, has gained attention as one of the first adult content apps to be distributed through an alternative app store on the iPhone, following changes in European law.

Since launching the App Store in 2008, Apple has maintained strict control over the apps available for download on its devices. Under former CEO Steve Jobs, the company made it clear that keeping pornography off the iPhone was a key part of its ethical stance, describing it as a “moral responsibility.” However, the regulatory landscape in the EU has changed significantly with the introduction of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in 2022, which requires Apple to permit alternative app stores on its devices.

One of these alternative stores, AltStore, has begun offering Hot Tub, an app marketed as “a private, secure, and elegant way to browse adult content.” Apple has since voiced strong objections to this move, emphasizing the potential safety risks posed by such apps, especially for children. In a statement, the company said, “This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem.”

The Hot Tub app was notarized by Apple as part of its mandatory security checks for alternative app stores, which scan for malware and other cybersecurity threats. However, Apple made it clear that while the app passed this technical review, it was not endorsing its content. “We certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store,” Apple stated, adding that it was required to allow the app to be distributed due to European Commission regulations.

The move has been met with support from AltStore, which reportedly received backing from Epic Games, the creator of the “Fortnite” video game, in a bid to challenge Apple’s app store policies. AltStore used this funding to cover Apple’s fees, which have been the subject of ongoing investigations by the EU.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney publicly supported the DMA, stating that it was necessary to prevent Apple from misusing its power as the sole gatekeeper of competing apps and stores. However, he also clarified that Epic’s own app store in the EU does not host adult content apps like Hot Tub, despite backing the broader push for regulatory change.

As the debate over digital policies and content regulation continues, the appearance of adult content on Apple devices under EU rules highlights the evolving tensions between consumer safety, competition, and corporate control in the tech industry.