Featured Image Credit: Anadolu / Contributor / Getty
While Apple has never stopped you from watching pornography on your iPhone, it's not exactly encouraging it. The late Steve Jobs said that Apple had a "moral responsibility to keep porn off the iPhone," while Apple's own App Store states that it won't allow apps that contain 'overtly sexual or pornographic material'.
This has become a problem thanks to the launch of the Hot Tub app, which claims to be 'Apple-approved'. Apple has already set the record straight and said that while the app is available, it's in no way endorsed by the tech giant.
Taking things even further, Apple spokesperson Peter Ajemian tried to distance the company from X-rated iPhone apps and said: "We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids."
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The situation arose due to the EU's Digital Markets Act and the emergence of third-party app stores after Apple was accused of trying to monopolize the market. AltStore PAL is the home of Hot Tub, although other third-party app stores including Setapp Mobile and the new Epic Games Store have also launched.
Despite Apple condemning the release of the 'first' porn app for iPhone, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney claims it's not quite true.
Posting on X in response to iPhone in Canada, Sweeney clapped back at Apple's stance on the situation: "Contrary to Apple's false statement, the Epic Games Store doesn't carry this app, doesn't carry any porn apps, and has never carried porn apps."
He went on to highlight that Reddit is easily available and contains adult content. Reddit's App Store listing gives it a 17+ rating, but it's true that X-rated posts aren't uncommon.
You could technically say the same for X, while someone in the replies pointed to how Discord has communities related to ‘adult multimedia’.
Sweeney's comments have drawn some criticism due to Epic's involvement with AltStore PAL. The alternative app store received funding via a grant from Epic Games, with AltStore PAL dropping its €1.50 annual subscription thanks to the additional funds.
Two more things.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic) February 3, 2025
1) Contrary to Apple’s false statement, the Epic Games Store doesn’t carry this app, doesn’t carry any porn apps, and has never carried porn apps.
Epic Games explains how its MegaGrants have helped over 2,100 projects, adding: "Epic MegaGrants are investments Epic Games makes to sponsor the development of exciting projects that may not otherwise have enough funding to fully realize.
"They’re specifically meant for smaller teams, solo developers, and innovators who are using our technology to bring bold, challenging, and insanely creative dreams to life."
Sweeney said the current model isn't how it 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."
Not everyone agrees with Sweeney, as someone else added: "If Discord counts, then pretty much all messaging applications would also count? WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger (Meta). What exactly is considered an 'nsfw' app?"
The biggest changes of the DMA mean Apple has to ensure alternative app stores are available on iOS, Meta has to make WhatsApp work with other messaging services, and Google must allow EU users to decide what services can share their data.
As the debate rages on, AltStore PAL claims it didn't struggle to get itself approved for iPhone because adult-related apps are often used as an example of the kind of apps that must now be allowed under the DMA.
