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 country’s national internet regulator, has been actively involved in regulating online content. In recent months, it has penalized social media platforms for failing to manage their content effectively. Apple stated that it follows the laws in 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. Additionally, an international version of Blued, called HeeSay, is available for download outside of China. HeeSay claims to have 54 million LGBTQ+ individuals 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 removed from Chinese stores, coinciding with a clean-up campaign by the Cyberspace Administration of China before 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 removal of the apps has significant implications for the LGBTQ community in China, who may face increased isolation and marginalization as a result. The international community will be watching to see how China’s internet regulator continues to regulate online content and whether this will lead to further restrictions on LGBTQ expression.
