News 5 February 2025
  views
Author: GRM DAILY

The iPhone’s first ever porn app has launched

Author GRM DAILY
5 February 2025
  views
Share
Share

Apple has permitted the first pornography app on the iPhone, following regulatory changes imposed by the European Union.

The app, called “Hot Tub,” brands itself as an “adult content browser,” enabling users to access and view explicit material.

Historically, Apple has maintained strict restrictions on adult content, a policy established under former CEO Steve Jobs, who cited a “moral responsibility” to keep pornography off its platform. The company’s App Store guidelines continue to prohibit such material. However, new European regulations have forced a shift in Apple’s policies.

The EU’s Digital Markets Act now requires Apple to allow third-party app stores that operate under different rules. While Apple still reviews these apps for security risks, it cannot enforce content restrictions beyond those affecting fraud or system integrity. As a result, “Hot Tub” was able to apply for distribution through AltStore PAL, an alternative app marketplace.

Apple has made it clear that it does not support or approve of the app’s presence on iPhones. In a statement, the company expressed concern over potential risks to users, particularly minors.

“We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids,” Apple stated. “We certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store.”

Despite Apple’s objections, the company has had to comply with EU regulations, allowing third-party marketplaces like AltStore to distribute apps that do not align with its policies.

[Image via Shutterstock]