China has ordered the removal of two popular gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from mobile stores in the country. Apple confirmed the removal to AFP on Tuesday, stating that it was based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China. The apps, which share a Hong Kong‑based owner, are no longer available in the Apple and Android stores in China.
Same‑sex marriage is not recognized in China, and discrimination against the LGBTQ community remains widespread. Activists have reported an increase in efforts to suppress LGBTQ expression in recent years, particularly under President Xi Jinping. The removal of the apps is seen as part of this broader trend. The Cyberspace Administration of China, the nation’s national internet regulator, has been actively involved in regulating online content and has recently penalized social media platforms for failing to manage their content effectively.
Apple said it follows the laws of the countries where it operates, which is why it removed the apps from the China storefront. While the full versions of Blued and Finka are no longer available in China, an express version of Blued can still be downloaded from Apple’s Chinese app store. An international version of Blued, called HeeSay, is available outside of China and claims to have 54 million LGBTQ+ users worldwide, according to its description in Apple’s app store.
This is not the first time a gay dating app has been removed from Chinese stores. In 2022, Grindr was taken down during a clean‑up campaign by the Cyberspace Administration of China ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The removal of Blued and Finka highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the LGBTQ community in China, where same‑sex marriage and expression are not recognized or protected. The action has significant implications for LGBTQ individuals in China, who may face increased isolation and marginalization. The international community will be watching how China’s internet regulator continues to manage online content and whether further restrictions on LGBTQ expression will follow.
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