TL;DR: Apple has removed two major gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its App Store in China due to a directive from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). This action is part of China's increased restrictions on LGBTQ+ platforms, with users who already have the apps being unaffected, but new downloads blocked.
Key Points:
- Apple removes Blued and Finka: Apple confirmed the removal of two popular gay dating apps from its China App Store following an order from China's internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
- Impact on users: Existing users of the apps can still access them, but new downloads are blocked in China. A "lite" version of Blued remains available in the Chinese market.
- Government crackdown: The removal is part of China's tightening censorship on LGBTQ+ content, despite homosexuality being decriminalized since 1997. The CAC cited concerns over "social morality" and public order.
- Previous removals: This follows the removal of Grindr from China's App Store in 2022. Other LGBTQ+ platforms have also faced increasing censorship in the country.
- Apple’s compliance: Apple stated, “We follow the laws in the countries where we operate.” The company did not comment on the broader implications for LGBTQ+ rights but emphasized its legal obligations in China.
Background on the Apps:
- Blued: Launched in 2012, Blued is one of the world’s largest gay social networking apps, with over 40 million users as of 2020. It was geo-restricted to China before removal.
- Finka: A smaller LGBTQ+ dating app, acquired by BlueCity in 2020, which had already been removed from international app stores earlier in 2025.
Broader Context:
- LGBTQ+ repression in China: The move highlights growing restrictions on LGBTQ+ expression in China, where several LGBTQ+ groups have been shut down in recent years.
- International reactions: The removal has drawn criticism from human rights groups and activists concerned about the loss of safe spaces for China’s LGBTQ+ community.