China orders Apple to take down major gay dating apps from its App Store

Apple

Apple has taken down the LGBTQ+ dating platforms Blued and Finka from the China App Store after being directed to do so by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The move, first reported by Wired, also saw the apps disappear from multiple Android app stores in the country, triggering debate online about the growing suppression of queer communities.

In a statement, Apple confirmed it was acting under government orders. “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 company said.

Apple added that Finka’s developer had already withdrawn the app globally earlier this year, while Blued was available only in China. The removal marks another instance of Apple enforcing local restrictions — a stance that has long drawn criticism from human rights advocates.

The takedown appears to be part of a broader tightening of state control over LGBTQ+ expression. Though China decriminalised homosexuality in the 1990s, it does not recognise same-sex marriage, and queer organisations have faced mounting pressure in recent years, with increased censorship of online content and social media accounts.

Back in 2020, Blued alone had over 49 million registered users, underscoring how significant this loss is for China’s LGBTQ+ community.