The launch of the iPhone’s first native pornography app, Hot Tub, on iOS in the European Union has sparked a fierce backlash from Apple.

The app, which became available this week through the third-party marketplace AltStore, has been met with strong disapproval from Apple, which says it is “deeply concerned about the safety risks” posed by such applications.

Hot Tub, described as an “adult content browser,” allows EU-based iOS users to search and play videos from adult websites, including Pornhub.

The app release comes nearly a year after EU regulations under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) compelled Apple to permit alternative app stores in the region. AltStore, funded in part by Epic Games, is one such platform that has emerged since the regulatory change.

On this, Epic Games said in a statement: “AltStore received an Epic MegaGrant to cover Apple’s anticompetitive Core Technology Fee, see the announcement here. We did this because Apple’s illegal fee makes it impossible for third party app stores to compete. Apple continues to use safety as a pretext to protect their monopoly power and evade compliance with the DMA.”

This isn’t how platforms should work: on Windows, Mac, and Linux, developers can make and release apps without the platform maker adding junk fees and rendering moral judgments on their decisions. On iOS, Apple forces its processes on developers against their wishes.

— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) February 3, 2025

In a statement issued to Forbes, Apple said: “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 also criticised AltStore for marketing the release of Hot Tub as the world’s 1st Apple-approved porn app, calling the claim misleading. Unlike apps in the official App Store, those in third-party marketplaces like AltStore undergo a less stringent “notarisation” process, which Apple describes as a baseline check to ensure apps are free of known malware, viruses, or other security threats

However, the company warns that alternative app stores can forego the rating process and include things like pornography, drug and alcohol, weapons, hate speech, and more.

Beyond this, Hot Tub’s launch has drawn attention due to its implications for Apple’s broader ecosystem and user safety. The app’s developer, known as c1d3r, previously active in the jailbreak scene, has positioned Hot Tub as a more secure alternative to accessing adult content via web browsers.

The app markets itself as protecting users from ads, trackers, and spam pop-ups, while offering features like built-in search, gestures, and advanced filtering for subscribers. However, Apple’s concerns extend beyond the app’s functionality. The company highlighted that Hot Tub includes a “teen” channel with content sourced from Pornhub, propogating an already grim facet of readily available porn.

Has the DMA Opened Pandora’s Box?

The DMA’s mandate for Apple to allow third-party app stores has opened the door to alternative policies on permissible content.

While the DMA aims to foster competition and consumer choice, Apple has argued that it also introduces significant risks.

Speaking to Fast Company in March 2024, Apple Fellow Phil Schiller cautioned: “These new regulations, while they bring new options for developers, also bring new risks. There’s no getting around that. So we’re doing everything we can to minimise those risks for everyone.”

Apple later released a whitepaper detailing enhanced protections designed to safeguard users from potential threats associated with third-party app stores.

AltStore, for its part, has defended its decision to host Hot Tub. The marketplace’s developer, Riley Testut, described the app to Forbes as “thoughtfully designed, ethically made, and free to use.”

AltStore has also pledged to donate its February Patreon earnings to organisations supporting sex workers and LGBTQ+ causes, including The Trevor Project and the Red Umbrella Fund. Despite this, Apple remains adamant that the app’s availability compromises the integrity of its platform and exposes users to undue risks.

Apple’s longstanding ban on pornography in its App Store has been a cornerstone of its efforts to maintain a family-friendly ecosystem. However, the arrival of third-party app stores under EU regulation has fundamentally moved the goalposts.

While apps like Hot Tub must meet notarisation standards, the lack of rigorous oversight compared to Apple’s App Review process has sparked concerns about broader content implications.

Recommended reading

• #StopDataPorn Brings Pornhub to Court Over GDPR
• Pornhub to Accept IWF Standards and Introduce Age Checks
• Children First See Violent Online Content at Primary School Age

As it stands, AltStore has implemented some barriers to limit access to Hot Tub. The app is not visible in the store by default, requiring manual activation by users.

While apps like Hot Tub are unlikely to make their way into the official App Store, the whorl of discontent around many of the Big Tech company’s practices around its App Store – perceived by many to be unfriendly with regards to consumer choice and developmental agency – means that many will seek out alternate options.

This raises whole new questions about the kinds of content that should be accessible on certain kinds of devices and what guardrails are in place with regards to who can access it and how well protected it is for those who do access it.