Daniel Otera
China has directed major tech platforms to remove two popular gay dating applications, Blued and Finka, from mobile app stores across the country, in what appears to be another clampdown on LGBTQ expression.
Apple confirmed on Tuesday that the decision followed a direct order from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the nation’s top internet regulator and censorship body.
“Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps from the China storefront only,” an Apple spokesperson told AFP.
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Both Blued and Finka, owned by a Hong Kong-based company, vanished from Apple and Android stores over the weekend, triggering widespread discussions on Chinese social media platforms.
The move comes amid growing concerns from human rights groups about increasing censorship and tightening restrictions on LGBTQ-related content under President Xi Jinping’s administration. Same-sex marriage remains illegal in China, and public advocacy for LGBTQ rights faces significant pushback.
“We follow the laws in the countries where we operate,” the Apple representative added, explaining that the app developers had previously limited some of their products to specific markets.
While Blued’s express version still appeared on Apple’s Chinese App Store as of Tuesday, its international version HeeSay remains accessible outside China, where users are told they will be joining “54 million LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide.”
Attempts by AFP to contact the Cyberspace Administration of China or the owners of the apps were unsuccessful.
This isn’t the first time Chinese authorities have targeted such platforms. In 2022, Grindr, another major gay dating app, was pulled down from Chinese app stores during a CAC-led clean-up operation ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics.