The First Porn App on iPhone Stirs Controversy
Apple Inc. is upset, despite "approving" the application for the iOS ecosystem in the European Union, as a small video player application called “Hot Tub” has gone viral. The reason for the rampant buzz is that it is the very first iOS-native iPhone application that allow users the ability to view online porn on platforms like Pornhub, xHamster, Xvideos, and Xnxx.
This news is significant because Apple is notorious for strictly enforcing a firewall for the types of mobile apps available on the Apple App Store. However, due to regulatory interventions in the European Union—namely the Digital Markets Act (DMA)—the weakness in that firewall can finally be exploited. According to TechCrunch and related tech industry coverage, Hot Tub can operate on iOS only due to the regulations promulgated by the DMA.
Understanding the Digital Markets Act (DMA)
Officially titled Regulation (EU) 2022/1925, the DMA concerns “contestable and fair markets in the digital sector.” The law attempts to break up the monopolization of the technology space in the European Union to ensure competition. To do this, EU regulators are tasked with identifying companies classified as “gatekeepers.”
The European Commission states that these six companies own and operate 22 popular online services that are identified as “core platform services.” The Apple App Store, classified by the law as “online intermediation services,” and operating systems like iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are covered by the DMA. Under the law, Apple is prohibited from blocking small developers from publishing applications in the Apple ecosystem, including age-restricted apps like Hot Tub.
| Entity | Classification / Role |
|---|---|
| Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, ByteDance | Gatekeepers |
| Hot Tub | iOS-native adult content app |
| AltStore | Alternative app store |
| Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 | Digital Markets Act (DMA) |
Distribution via Alternative Marketplaces
Will Smillie, who develops Hot Tub and goes by the online handle c1d3r, saw an opportunity to release the app in the European market. He maintains the app is "approved." Because of the DMA, alternative app stores, like the AltStore, are allowed to operate alongside the official Apple App Store.
The team behind the AltStore announced that Smillie’s app would be released on their store, and it went viral. “Hot Tub aims to offer a better viewing experience for adult content,” Smillie told AVN. He explained the third-party app serves as an iOS native top-level wrapper to experience the top adult tube platforms owned and operated by the major companies that own those websites, including Aylo’s Pornhub and Hammy Media’s xHamster. Smillie further explained: “We have been approved for distribution within the laws of the DMA and are completely compliant as it relates to those things, along with AltStore and Apple’s ... notarization process.”
Apple’s Safety Concerns and Disavowal
Amid the popularity of Hot Tub and recent news coverage, Apple’s senior leadership aggressively disavowed the claim that the app is “approved.” An Apple spokesperson stated: “We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids.” The company argues that this app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in the ecosystem.
The statement adds, “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.” Instead, the statement blames the European Commission and regulators for allowing the Hot Tub app to be distributed through third-party app stores like AltStore or Epic. Apple remarks that these marketplaces “may not share our concerns for user safety.”