Apple has removed two of China’s most popular gay dating platforms, Blued and Finka, from its app store in the country following an order from Chinese authorities — marking another step in Beijing’s tightening restrictions on the LGBTQ+ community.
In a statement, an Apple spokesperson confirmed that the removal was made “based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China,” without providing further details. “We follow the laws in the countries where we operate,” the spokesperson told The Associated Press.
A review by the AP on Tuesday showed that both apps were no longer available on Apple’s China app store, although an “express” version of Blued could still be found. The difference between the full and express versions, or whether Android versions remain accessible, was not immediately clear.
Apple said Blued was available “only in China,” while Finka’s developer had already “elected to remove the app” from markets outside the country earlier this year. Another popular gay dating app, Grindr, was also removed from Apple’s Chinese app store in 2022.
Despite the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1997, China’s LGBTQ+ community has come under mounting pressure, with several advocacy groups forced to shut down and activism facing increasing restrictions.
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Both Blued and Finka are owned by BlueCity, a China-based company serving the LGBTQ+ community domestically and abroad. BlueCity was delisted from the Nasdaq in 2022 after going private.
Last year, Apple similarly removed messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese app store following directives from the same government agency.
“Among all foreign tech companies serving Chinese users, Apple is likely the most compliant with China’s internet regulations,” said George Chen, a partner and digital practice co-chair at The Asia Group. He noted that Apple “seldom challenges the government’s takedown orders, as the Chinese market — especially iPhone sales — remains too significant for the company.”
Source: AP