LONDON — Apple has expressed concerns regarding a new adult content application that has emerged in the European Union, stating that the bloc’s recent digital regulations aimed at promoting competition could jeopardize consumer trust in the company. The app, known as Hot Tub, was released by AltStore PAL, an alternative app marketplace created under the regulations of Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The app serves as a browser for adult content and has been touted as the first Apple-approved pornography application.
The DMA mandates that major tech firms allow users to download applications from third-party app stores rather than being confined to the official marketplaces operated by Apple and Google. In a recent statement, AltStore PAL claimed that they had gained approval from Apple for Hot Tub, prompting a swift rebuttal from the tech giant. Apple stated that the existence of such an application would “undermine consumer trust and confidence” in its ecosystem.
Apple’s statement emphasized that it does not endorse this app and clarified that it would never allow it in its own App Store. The company maintains that, despite the European Commission’s requirements for an opening of marketplace access, it cannot guarantee a safe environment for users. Apple pointed out that apps on other marketplaces still require certification through its “notarization” process, but developers should not misrepresent this as an endorsement from Apple.
AltStore is partially funded by Epic Games, a company that has been in a protracted conflict with Apple over its app distribution policies and high fees associated with in-app transactions. In response to Apple’s criticisms, AltStore accused the company of using safety concerns as a cover to protect its dominance in the marketplace and avoid complying with the DMA regulations.
Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney joined the conversation on social media, emphasizing that developers on platforms like Windows, Mac, and Linux are able to create and publish applications without facing additional fees or moral scrutiny from the platform providers.
The implementation of the DMA has required Apple to alter some of its business practices since last year. One significant change includes allowing users in the 27-country bloc to download apps from third-party play stores, directly challenging the previous restrictions that bound users to Apple’s App Store.
Apple has frequently criticized the new regulations, arguing that they expose users in Europe to a greater risk of encountering inappropriate services, including those that offer pornography and illegal goods, which Apple has traditionally barred from its own App Store. The company reiterated its concerns in its latest remarks, highlighting the potential dangers that adult content applications pose to European users, particularly children. The European Commission, which oversees the enforcement of these digital regulations, has yet to offer a response to the ongoing discussion.
