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Apple does not approve of the "Hot Tub" pornography app that was released for the iPhone in the EU using alternative app distribution, Apple said in a statement to MacRumors. Further, Apple is concerned about the potential user safety risks with a pornography app, and says that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem.

App-Store-vs-EU-Feature-2.jpg

We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. 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. Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store. The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety.
Apple's statement references the first native iOS pornography app that is available through AltStore, an alternative app marketplace in the European Union. Apple is required to allow app marketplaces in the EU by the Digital Markets Act, and Apple has little control over the kinds of apps that are distributed through the marketplaces.

In marketing for the app, AltStore referred to Hot Tub as "the first Apple-approved porn app," and Apple has taken issue with the wording. While all apps distributed outside of the App Store in the EU have to go through Apple's Notarization process, it only checks for malware, fraud, and other egregious issues. Notarization does not limit content, and apps sideloaded on the iPhone in the EU can have pornography, references to drugs and alcohol, hate speech, and other content that would not be permitted under the App Store rules.


Apple's Notarization guidelines actually prohibit apps from implying that Apple "endorses any particular representation regarding quality or functionality" of any app or app marketplace in the EU, so AltStore has seemingly violated Apple's Notarization rules.

Apple wants to make it clear that the Hot Tub pornography app is available because European Commission has forced Apple to allow AltStore and other alternative app marketplaces to exist in the EU, even though Apple has warned multiple times that the DMA would make objectionable, harmful, and illicit content available to consumers.

Apple says that it expressed concerns about the upcoming pornography app in December, but the European Commission hasn't made a move to stop it from being distributed.

Update: Following Apple's statement, Epic Games has clarified that it does not offer Hot Tub or other porn apps through the Epic Games Store in the EU. For clarity, Epic Games did give AltStore a "MegaGrant" that allows it to distribute apps like Hot Tub for free.

Article Link: Apple Says It Doesn't Approve of EU Porn App
 
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Just stop Apple

Jeebus ... this statment is not needed

If anything you're bringing more attention to the porn app and third party marketplaces that allow users more freedom on how they use their iOS devices

They are absolutely right though. Apple has developed a safe and closed environment, but then came the EU and it took the safety enitrely away. Which honestly is strange since the DSA would limit an App Store making Porn Apps available to children.
 
Yeah nothing like this can be access via safari at all.

Not if you actually take the time to set up child protection on the device. Protection that Apple can enforce in Safari or their App Store. But not in third party app stores or browsers. And this is exactly the point here!!!

adults should be allowed to enjoy what they want. It’s like saying driving a car is bad because a toddler might accidentally get locked inside a car by themselves.

If a kid starts driving a car then they are quickly arested. So there is an (external) protection here. Exactly what Apple wants in their devices.
 
Apple, this statement is not needed

If anything you're bringing more attention to the porn app and third party marketplaces that allow users more freedom on how they use their iOS devices

I have to agree. In the EU this ship has sailed, shut up about it versus drawing more attention to the alt-store crowd.

Edit: I skimmed over this part "AltStore referred to Hot Tub as "the first Apple-approved porn app," and Apple has taken issue with the wording". Apple is doing as they should, there is no reason to poke the bear by saying that, it's in poor taste.
 
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Not if you actually take the time to set up child protection on the device. Protection that Apple can enforce in Safari or their App Store. But not in third party app stores or browsers. And this is exactly the point here!!!

Why can't they do that with the App Store? Apple has created this market. If they let it on the store it could be managed.
 
“we certainly do not approve of this app”.

You do not approve of this app.
But you do and did approve this app.

👉 Because you (chose to) force every developer to seek your approval.

Apple checks apps for malware and signs them, but they do not impose content restrictions on alternate stores signing as required by the DMA does not mean they approved the app in the common usage of approved, IMHO; any more than the EU approved the porn app because they required Apple to sign it.

I have to agree. In the EU this ship has sailed, **** about it versus drawing more attention to the alt-store crowd.

Alternatively, drawing attention to things like this enhances the shady image of alternate stores.
 
Steve Jobs has been dead for over a decade. What he thought and wanted for Apple really isn't relevant anymore.

As for the article, they, however, do approve of these apps:



 
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Apple, this statement is not needed

If anything you're bringing more attention to the porn app and third party marketplaces that allow users more freedom on how they use their iOS devices
well, the original story on MR I think had something like "Apple approves ...", now it is changed, nd this statement was apparently issued to MR for misleading information it seems.
So, I think Apple is correct here.
 
Not if you actually take the time to set up child protection on the device. Protection that Apple can enforce in Safari or their App Store. But not in third party app stores or browsers. And this is exactly the point here!!!



If a kid starts driving a car then they are quickly arested. So there is an (external) protection here. Exactly what Apple wants in their devices.
So Apple have chosen to not include this app in their age verification by forcing it to a third party store. Still on them I’m afraid. There’s nothing wrong with porn, and it’s only linked to malware because of moves like this that force it underground.
Just glad the US is exiting the world stage so the rest of us can be free. Tariffs for the win!
 
Apple checks apps for malware and signs them
…thereby approving them for running on consumers’ devices distribution.

They don’t have to.
Again: Apple chose to require their (Apple’s) approval - their checks and signing the app.
When they could’ve easily chosen a hands-off approach and not interfere at all instead.
 
Apple, this statement is not needed

If anything you're bringing more attention to the porn app and third party marketplaces that allow users more freedom on how they use their iOS devices

We know when people mean “freedom” they mean child abuse, piracy, scams and gambling apps for underage players.

All of which they can do on a desktop. They really just want to target people on the move and on the couch because that means more harms, more victims and more revenue for the same criminals who are right now buying up all the power.
 
So Apple have chosen to not include this app in their age verification by forcing it to a third party store. Still on them I’m afraid. There’s nothing wrong with porn, and it’s only linked to malware because of moves like this that force it underground.
Just glad the US is exiting the world stage so the rest of us can be free. Tariffs for the win!

This sentence says it all. Because that's blatently not true.
 
As a European citizen, this Porn app or the whole AltStore debacle makes me so sad. They sold us freedom of choice, but all we got is a crappy new store with a porn app and a game emulator. Is this the best developers can do when the walled garden is torn down? Don’t make me laugh.

Please, EU, give me a real choice. The choice to keep everything the way it was! Nobody is using it. Give it two years, and it will be completely dead.
 
…thereby approving them for running on consumers’ devices distribution.

They don’t have to. They could’ve easily chosen not to interfere.
This is a poor and loose argument. It's intentionally misunderstanding any nuance of the situation. It's like saying a parent is complicit when a child commits murder because they chose to have that child. It's a very non-sequitur.
 
It's like saying a parent is complicit when a child commits murder because they chose to have that child
No.

A child has a free will.
Developers (wanting to distribute their apps) do not.

A child isn’t bound by the same shackles as developers of iOS apps are.
Apple can withdraw their signing certificate - or, figuratively speaking, ability to “go somewhere” - at any time. Remotely.
 
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