Hot Tub Is 1st iPhone Porn App: Apple Warns Of User Safety In Rare Statement

Forbes

Apple has been consistent in not allowing pornography into the App Store.
So, the arrival of the first porn app in the AltStore PAL store has caused a commotion—and Apple has taken the rare step of commenting.
The app is called Hot Tub and launched on Monday, Feb. 3 in the AltStore PAL app store from developer Riley Testut and is described as an adult content browser.
“We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids.
Epic’s Tim Sweeney has since pointed out on X that “the Epic Games Store doesn’t carry this app, doesn’t carry any porn apps, and has never carried porn apps.” The developer says it’s “an elegant, native porn app.

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Pornography has never been permitted in the App Store by Apple. However, EU changes have made it possible for independent app stores to open, and these have their own ideas about what is acceptable. Apple has taken the unusual step of commenting on the controversy caused by the first porn app to appear in the AltStore PAL store.

Launched on Monday, February, the app is named Hot Tub. It is referred to as an adult content browser and is available in the AltStore PAL app store from developer Riley Testut. Instead of undergoing the usual full approval process, apps in these alternative app stores in the EU must be notarized.

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According to Tech Crunch, AltStore PAL “says they didn’t have any issues getting the app approved, though that’s probably because Apple has frequently used pornography as an example of the kind of app they now must allow under the DMA.”.

Apple has reacted vehemently since marketing implied that the app was approved. I received a statement from the company.

“We have serious concerns about the safety risks that these kinds of hardcore porn apps pose to EU users, particularly children. Customers will lose faith in our ecosystem, which we have spent over ten years creating to be the greatest in the world, as a result of this app and others like it. Despite the marketplace developer’s misleading claims, we do not endorse this app and will never carry it in our App Store. In actuality, the European Commission has mandated that we permit it to be distributed by marketplace operators such as AltStore and Epic, who might not share our concerns regarding user safety,” Apple claims.

Put another way, meeting the notarization requirements is clearly not the same as Apple approving the app as it typically would.

Users of the app, which is referred to as an “adult content browser,” can play videos from websites like Pornhub and XHamster, for example.

But Apple told me that the app has a “teen” channel with Pornhub content. It also mentioned that Epic Games provides funding for AltStore.

Since then, Tim Sweeney of Epic has noted on X that “this app, no porn apps, and we have never carried porn apps in the Epic Games Store.”. “.”.

A sophisticated, native porn app, according to the developer. thoughtfully created, morally sound, and available for free. “.”.

The EU now has different App Store regulations, and governments worldwide, including the U.S., have similar policies. S. along with the U. K. will be keeping a careful eye on it.

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