Apple Blocks iTorrent App From EU Alternative App Marketplace

[MacRumors]

Apple is no longer allowing torrenting app iTorrent to be distributed via the AltStore Pal alternative app marketplace in the European Union, according to TorrentFreak.

Torrent apps like iTorrent and qBitControl have been available for download from AltStore PAL since July of last year. Torrent apps are not allowed in the official App Store, but Apple has fewer controls over the alternative app marketplaces in the European Union due to the Digital Markets Act. In countries where alternative app marketplaces are available, iPhone and iPad users are able to download apps outside of the App Store.

Starting in July 2025, some iTorrent users became unable to download the app, and the app's developer said that Apple had revoked its alternative distribution rights. While there are far fewer restrictions on apps distributed outside of the App Store, Apple has implemented a Notarization process that gives it some control over non-App Store apps.

Notarization includes a baseline review that ensures apps are free from known malware, viruses, or other security threats. Apple says that it also makes sure that apps function as promised and do not expose users to egregious fraud.

Daniil Vinogradov, the developer behind iTorrent, claims that Apple did not provide a reason when iTorrent's distribution rights were revoked. After asking for more information, Apple provided a generic response and later said that the escalation team is investigating the issue. "I still have no idea if it was my fault or Apple's, and their responses make no sense," Vinogradov told TorrentFreak.

Because Apple has provided no details on the iTorrent app situation, it is not clear if there was some known security threat or fraud issue that caused the app's distribution rights to be revoked.

AltStore PAL has also requested more information from Apple, and was told that Apple is "looking into it." AltStore PAL has not received any warnings about torrent apps or other app categories, so there doesn't seem to be a blanket ban on torrenting apps.

Article Link: Apple Blocks iTorrent App From EU Alternative App Marketplace

 

[germanbeer007]

Daniil Vinogradov, the developer behind iTorrent, claims that Apple did not provide a reason when iTorrent's distribution rights were revoked.

99% of the time whenever a developer claims Apple didn't provide a reason, they're ********ting.

Apple almost ALWAYS provides a reason, even if it sounds like a stupid reason, there is a reason.

And that 1% of the time when they didn't provide a reason, they eventually provide a REALLY GOOD REASON. Example: developer of Dash. His credit card was linked to review fraud and he even admitted it so.

 

[Macusercom]

I hope the EU steps up now

 

[Chaos215bar2]

Because Apple has provided no details on the iTorrent app situation, it is not clear if there was some known security threat or fraud issue that caused the app's distribution rights to be revoked.

Nonsense. If there were a known threat, Apple should be telling their customers not to use the app. Since they are not, we can reasonably assume that is not why the app was removed.

Why try to help justify this? We already know Apple is not a fan of Torrent apps, despite legal uses. Unless they say otherwise, there's no reason to give Apple any benefit of the doubt.

 

[Happy_John]

Much as I am very happy the EU has forced Apple to allow third party app stores to function within iOS, this is a no-brainer.

There are essentially no valid use-cases for having a torrent client on an iPhone or iPad other than piracy. Anyone claiming they have a torrent client on their iPhone because "I'm only torrenting Linux distros" deserves the eye-rolling they'll recieve.

The EU are not fans of piracy / stolen IP, so it is wildly optimistic that they will fight Apple on this, as long as AltStore PAL is itself not blocked by Apple. If Apple only blocks the torrent client, then Apple and the EU will be on the same side of the argument. It's in fact possible that the EU mentioned to Apple that they would be quite happy if Apple did, in fact, block access to torrenting apps on an iPhone/iPad.

 

[ForkHandles]

Torrent helps people to steal things.

Screw them.

 

[CapitalIdea]

I hope the EU steps up now

Why? Because ONE torrent app was pulled, with no information yet? For all you know, they requested it.

 

[jz0309]

Nonsense. If there were a known threat, Apple should be telling their customers not to use the app. Since they are not, we can reasonably assume that is not why the app was removed.

Why try to help justify this? We already know Apple is not a fan of Torrent apps, despite legal uses. Unless they say otherwise, there's no reason to give Apple any benefit of the doubt.

Yea, there are always 2 sides to a story and when 1 person says something we always believe them cause the other is always wrong, sure thing.
Nonsense.

 

[Happy_John]

I hope the EU steps up now

They might do, but not in the way you might like.

The EU is not fond of piracy.

 

[toto75]

Meanwhile, torrent apps can be freely downloaded with a browser on a Mac

 

[R2FX]

you NEED a torrent app to download Linux distros right??

Or are we just trying to download movie / music torrents directly to iPhone dear developer?

 

[toto75]

Much as I am very happy the EU has forced Apple to allow third party app stories to function within iOS, this is a no-brainer.

There are essentially no valid-use cases for having a torrent client on an iPhone or iPad other than piracy. Anyone claiming they have a torrent client on their iPhone because "I'm only torrenting Linux distros" deserves the ey-rolling they'll recieve.

The EU are not fans of piracy / stolen IP, so it is wildly optimistic that they will fight Apple on this, as long as AltStore PAL is itself not blocked by Apple. If Apple only blocks the torrent client, then Apple and the EU will be on the same side of the argument. It's in fact possible that the EU mentioned to Apple that they would be quite happy if Apple did, in fact, block access to torrenting apps on an iPhone/iPad.

Would you be alright with Apple blocking browsers from downloading certain kinds of software on a Mac?

 

[JSDK]

Although an app is more convenient, it's not a big deal. If you want to download torrents, you can easily do it directly in Safari via a website that offers it. I think the time has passed for pirated movies (at least for me), I already have too little time to watch all the movies and TV series that are uploaded to the streaming services I pay for.

 

[Happy_John]

Would you be alright with Apple blocking browsers from downloading certain kinds of software on a Mac?

You are assuming I think this is good. I didn't say that. I said that it is a "no brainer". Which it is.

Your response is a bit of a strawman, as you're shifting the goalposts with a "slippery slope" argument, but I'll play along.

Yes, I would be happy if Apple blocked browsers from downloading malware, which is a kind of software.

 

[germanbeer007]

Apple should be telling their customers not to use the app.

What? That's what notarization is for. When a build of an app is found to be malicious, the notarization ticket is revoked and the users can no longer run the app.

 

[Happy_John]

Although an app is more convenient, it's not a big deal. If you want to download torrents, you can easily do it directly in Safari via a website that offers it. I think the time has passed for pirated movies (at least for me), I already have too little time to watch all the movies and TV series that are uploaded to the streaming services I pay for.

Piracy is on the rise again, though. Mainly through the fragmentation of the streaming market, leading people to pay for multiple streaming services, not just one, and the rising price of each subscription.

It might be a problem created by the streaming services themselves, but irrespective of who's to blame, it is on the rise.

 

[dannyyankou]

Torrent helps people to steal things.

Screw them.

So does the internet in general. But they both can be used legally. Some of my favorite bands let their fans record live shows and share them via torrent.

 

[thadoggfather]

I haven't really kept up: is AltStore 'PAL' on App Store in EU or is that side loaded?

if the latter, that's interesting they blocked it. If the former, guess I'm not that surprised since it's one hop away from their ecosystem without additional hurdles to jump through.

 

[Happy_John]

Torrent helps people to steal things.

Screw them.

People love torrenting if they are consuming content.

If creating content is your job though, and the money you make from that job (and so that content) is how you pay your rent/mortgage and pay for things at the supermarket, then it's a different story.

Piracy is theft. It's up to people to decide if they are OK with stealing content or not, but it's disingenuous to claim that piracy isn't theft.

 

[omenatarhuri]

Don't care about this app in particular, but it's interesting to find out that Apple still can disapprove something in the alt stores.

I thought the whole point was that you'd be freer to distribute whatever stuff one likes to.

 

[Happy_John]

So does the internet in general. But they both can be used legally. Some of my favorite bands let their fans record live shows and share them via torrent.

Torrenting can be used legally, but let's get real here, in the vast majority of cases it isn't used legally.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

There are plenty of non-piracy reasons to have torrents. There's just also pirate reasons to have torrents, too.

I'm quite curious on Apple's reasoning here.

 

[Happy_John]

Don't care about this app in particular, but it's interesting to find out that Apple still can disapprove something in the alt stores.

I thought the whole point was that you'd be freer to distribute whatever stuff one likes to.

No. Think it through. An app delivering illegal content ( very bad porn etc.) does not become OK just because it was installed via through a 3rd party App Store. The third party app store in question hasn't been blocked. The torrenting app has.

 

[Jamie0003]

Came in here expecting the usual Apple can do no wrong commenters.

Of course, I was not disappointed. There are plenty of uses for torrents that are legal guys. It’s most likely Apple just doing the usual malicious compliance…

 

[JSDK]

Piracy is on the rise again, though. Mainly through the fragmentation of the streaming market, leading people to pay for multiple streaming services, not just one, and the rising price of each subscription.

It might be a problem created by the streaming services themselves, but irrespective of who's to blame, it is on the rise.

I know. I've read that many people complain about series and movies moving around on different services, so you have to sign up in multiple places, and then of course an inevitable increase in prices that will soon make it so expensive that it's better to rent the 2-3 movies you watch a month.