Apple Removes Top Gay Dating Apps from China's App Store Amid Censorship Crackdown

Apple has removed two of the most popular gay dating apps in China, Blued and Finka, from the App Store after receiving an order from China's main internet regulator and censorship authority, the Cyberspace Administration of China. The move comes as reports of the apps disappearing from the iOS App Store and several Android app stores circulated on Chinese social media over the weekend. The apps appear to still be functional for users in the country who already have them downloaded. According to Apple, the decision to remove the apps was based on the order from the Cyberspace Administration of China. An Apple spokesperson stated in an email, "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." Apple clarified that the apps have not been available in other countries for some time, with Finka's developer having elected to remove the app from storefronts outside of China earlier this year, and Blued being available only in China. Most international LGBTQ dating apps are already blocked in China, with Grindr being removed from Apple's Chinese App Store in 2022. China decriminalized homosexuality in the 1990s, but the government does not recognize same-sex marriage. In recent years, the country has been tightening its grip on online censorship, with the Cyberspace Administration of China issuing strict guidelines for online content. The removal of Blued and Finka from the App Store has sparked concerns among the LGBTQ community in China, who rely on these apps for social connections and support. "This is a huge setback for the LGBTQ community in China," said a spokesperson for the LGBTQ advocacy group, China LGBT. "These apps provided a safe space for people to connect and express themselves, and their removal will only exacerbate the existing social isolation and stigma faced by the community." The current status of the apps is unclear, with users in China reporting that they are still able to access the apps through alternative means. However, the removal of the apps from the App Store marks a significant escalation in the Chinese government's efforts to control online content and suppress LGBTQ expression. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the LGBTQ community in China will adapt and respond to this latest development.