Apple has confirmed the removal of two prominent gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its app store in China at the request of government authorities. An Apple spokesperson stated, “We follow the laws of the countries where we operate,” specifying that the removal pertains only to the Chinese storefront due to an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China.
This decision has raised concerns among members of the LGBT community in China, as Blued is one of the most widely-used gay dating apps in the country, boasting tens of millions of downloads. Notably, a “lite” version of Blued remains available on local app stores, while other dating apps like Jicco and Jack’d are still accessible.
Apple operates a distinct app store in China, adhering to the country’s stringent internet laws, which also result in the unavailability of popular platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. Users of Android devices in the country utilize modified versions of the operating system due to the blockage of the Google Play Store.
The removal of these apps is part of a broader trend of increased regulation. In 2022, for instance, the popular US-based gay dating app Grindr was also taken down following a crackdown on what the Chinese administration deemed illegal content. The following year, new regulations mandated that all apps serving domestic users must obtain licenses, leading to the removal of numerous foreign apps.
While homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997, same-sex marriage remains unrecognized, and advocacy groups like the Beijing LGBT Center and ShanghaiPride have suspended their operations amid growing restrictions. The Chinese government has indicated that its regulations aim to support the “standardised and healthy development of the internet industry.”
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98n2kye01eo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss