The giant Apple strongly criticizes the EU, which “obliges” it to disseminate a pornographic application in its app store

The famous apple brand strongly criticizes the European Commission which pushes it to authorize within the EU a pornography application within its App Store, which is the shop for downloading applications to its device.
Apple criticized the European Commission on Monday which “obliges it” to authorize the distribution in the European Union (EU) of a pornography application via an alternative to its app store, and said it was said “concerned about security risks […] especially for children “.
Called Hot Tub, the service in question allows users to search and watch pornographic videos from several online sources. It is available in the EU via Alstore PAL, a mobile application shop.
The iPhone manufacturer has long been fighting against the possibility of downloading apps other than via his “App Store”, but he had to give in to Europe because of the regulations on digital markets (“Digital Markets Act”, DMA), entered in force last year to fight against the abuse of dominant position of tech giants.
In strong disagreement
“We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore pornography applications of this type create for EU users, especially children”said a spokesperson in a declaration communicated to theAFP. He said “Unlike false declarations” Make Hot Tub, Apple “Absolutely does not approve of this application”. “The truth is that the European Commission obliges us to authorize its distribution by application stores like Altstore and Epic, which may not share our concerns in user security.”
Many companies, the publisher of the Fortnite video game, Epic Games, in mind, accuse Apple of taking advantage of its “monopoly” on iOS, the mobile operating system of the brand’s smartphones and tablets, to impose commissions that They consider exorbitant on user purchases.
The entry into force of the DMA constitutes a victory for these companies.
Accounting to check
In the EU, Apple now checks compatibility with iOS of applications available on Altstore (or other alternative stores) as well as the absence of malicious software, but does not have a word to say about their quality or on content .
The Californian group clarified having warned the European Commission in December about Hot Tub, and assured that it had not opposed the application.
At the end of 2023, the pornhub.com site was charged in the United States for facilitating illegal financial transactions, linked to human trafficking, for sexual exploitation purposes. “This application and others of the same type will undermine consumer confidence in our ecosystem”estimates Apple. Alstore is partly funded by Epic Games, who did not immediately respond to a request from the’AFP.