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EU Launches Hot Tub Apple App Amidst Controversy

The Hot Tub app, an adult content browser, has been launched on European iOS devices through AltStore PAL, an alternative app marketplace, sparking controversy and raising questions about app regulation and safety risks.

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In a significant development, Hong Kong-based app developer Riley Testut has launched the first native iPhone porn app, "Hot Tub", in the EU through the approved alternative app store, AltStore, made possible by Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA). This move has sparked controversy, with Apple expressing concerns over safety risks, particularly for minors.

The Hot Tub app aggregates adult content from various websites, including Pornhub, Xvideos, and XHamster, and offers features such as built-in search, gestures, and customizable controls. Although the app has undergone the Notarization process, a representative for AltStore claims that Apple "certainly does not approve" of the app. This has raised questions about the implications of the EU's Digital Markets Act on app regulation and the role of alternative app stores like AltStore.

Riley Testut, the developer of AltStore, has stated that the app is "ethically made" and will donate its Patreon earnings to support sex workers and the LGBTQ+ community. However, Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, has distanced his company from the app, saying it doesn't carry any pornography apps. The launch of Hot Tub on AltStore PAL, an alternative app marketplace, marks the first time an "Apple-approved" porn app has been available on iOS in Europe, bypassing Apple's strict guidelines that ban "overtly sexual or pornographic material" on its own App Store.

The European Commission has prohibited Apple from blocking repugnant content on alternative marketplaces, which has allowed the Hot Tub app to be made available to users in the EU. Apple has commented that it is required to allow the app due to EU regulations but notes that notarization, the process the app underwent, is not the same as approval. The company has expressed concerns over the safety risks associated with the app, particularly for minors.

The launch of the Hot Tub app has significant implications for the app development industry and the regulation of adult content on mobile devices. As the debate surrounding the app continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and what impact it will have on the industry as a whole.

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