A technicality had led to the misconception that Apple endorsed a porn app available to iPhone users in the EU through a third-party app store.
This resulted in some misleading news headlines, but Apple has addressed the issue by altering three words in the email sent to developers.
The porn app issue
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) enacted by the EU last year mandated that Apple permit third-party app stores on iPhones. Although the company complied begrudgingly, it attempted to dissuade iPhone users from utilizing them and made the installation process quite cumbersome.
One of Apple’s primary concerns was that it would lose its ability to exclude certain types of apps from its platform, with pornography being one of the categories it has consistently rejected.
Apple maintained the authority to review apps for safety before authorizing their distribution in third-party stores, including the porn-browsing app Hot Tub. Following this, AltStore claimed that Apple “approved” the app for inclusion.
This statement was technically accurate, as once Apple confirmed that an app’s code met security and privacy standards, the developer received an email indicating the same. The phrasing of that email stated that it was “approved” for release.
The following app has been approved for distribution
Apple was quick to emphasize that this did not imply that it endorsed the app.
Contrary to the misleading claims made by the marketplace developer, we absolutely do not endorse this app and would never offer it in our App Store. The fact is that we are mandated by the European Commission to permit its distribution by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic, who may not prioritize user safety like we do.
Apple has now modified three words
Riley Testut from AltStore has now reported a change in wording from Apple.
Previously, it stated: The following app has been approved for distribution
Now, it states: The following app is now ready for distribution
It appears that Apple has revised the wording of Notarization emails to eliminate the term “approved”; I wonder what prompted this change!
As John Gruber observed, this solution effectively communicates with developers while “in no way suggesting approval.”
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash
