Apple is deeply concerned about the safety risks that the hardcore porn app 'Hot Tub" from the EU's 'AltStore PAL' poses to iPhone users
Apple Inc. lambasted the EU’s Digital Markets Act after the first known porn app for the iPhone arrived on the company’s devices in the region.
The app, called Hot Tub, is available in the EU via AltStore PAL, a third-party software marketplace that became available in the region due to local requirements. The app allows users to search for and view pornographic video from multiple online sources.
The AltStore has received an investment from Epic Games Inc., a longtime Apple foe that has fought Apple in court in multiple countries over App Store rules and fees. Epic also offers a third-party store of its own for iPhones in the EU.
The developer of Hot Tub has marketed the app as Apple approved — an assertion the company said is a lie. Apps on third-party stores in the EU are reviewed by Apple for malware and device compatibility, but are not endorsed for quality or functionality, according to the company’s regulations for developers.
“We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement. “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.” Bloomberg.