In a significant move impacting digital freedoms, Chinese authorities have directed the removal of prominent gay dating applications from mobile marketplaces. Technology giant Apple has confirmed its compliance with this order, pulling the apps specifically within China.
Apple Responds to Government Directive
Apple has officially confirmed the removal of Blued and Finka, two of the most popular gay dating applications in China, from its local App Store. This action was taken directly in response to an order issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China. An Apple spokesperson clarified the company's position, stating, “We follow the laws of the countries where we operate.”
The spokesperson further elaborated that the removal was based on the specific order from the Chinese cyberspace authority and that the apps were removed exclusively from the China storefront, remaining available in other regions. This is not an isolated incident; in 2022, the US-based gay dating app Grindr was similarly deleted from China’s App Store.
Impact and Response from the LGBT Community
This latest development has sparked considerable concern and frustration within China’s LGBT community. The removal of Blued, which boasts tens of millions of downloads and is one of the world's largest gay social networks, is seen as part of a broader pattern of increasing censorship and shrinking spaces for the community.
Some individuals voiced their dismay online, with one person asserting, “It’s not something shameful or unspeakable.” Despite the crackdown, a lite version of the Blued app remains available for download, and other platforms like Jicco and Jack’d are still accessible within the country for now.
The Broader Regulatory Context in China
The Chinese government has been tightening its control over the online industry. In 2023, Beijing introduced new regulations that require all apps to register for licenses to operate domestically, a move that prompted several foreign platforms to exit the market.
Officials have described these measures as efforts to promote the “standardised and healthy development” of China’s online space. While homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997, same-sex marriage remains unrecognized, and many advocacy organizations, including the Beijing LGBT Centre and Shanghai Pride, have been forced to shut down in recent years.
This action against dating apps represents another step in the state's ongoing regulation of online content and community spaces, aligning with its broader internet governance policies.
