Apple has removed two major gay dating apps from its App Store in China following an order from the country’s internet regulator.
The apps, Blued and Finka, are currently the most widely used dating platforms for LGBTQ+ users in China. According to reports, Apple took them down after being directed by the Cyberspace Administration of China, Independent reported.
In a statement, Apple said:
“We follow the laws in the countries where we operate. Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps from the China storefront only.”
The removal is seen as another setback for China’s LGBTQ+ community, who already face restrictions and limited legal protections.
Homosexuality was decriminalised in China in 1997, but same-sex marriage remains illegal. Films and media with LGBTQ+ themes are also heavily censored.
This is not the first time dating apps targeted at the community have been affected. Grindr was removed from China’s App Store in 2022.
However, people who already downloaded the apps say they remain functional on their phones for now.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who publicly came out as gay in 2014, has often spoken about equality and inclusion. The company also markets itself as supportive of LGBTQ+ rights globally, releasing annual Pride-themed products and donating to advocacy organizations.
The latest action highlights the contrast between Apple’s global identity and the local government restrictions it must comply with in key markets like China.
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