Tag: Gay dating app

Chinese authorities have removed two major gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from app stores in the country, Apple confirmed to AFP on Tuesday. Same-sex marriage remains illegal in China, and LGBTQ+ individuals often face discrimination. Activists say efforts to curb LGBTQ+ expression have intensified in recent years, especially under President Xi Jinping. Over the weekend, users on Chinese social media noticed that the full versions of Blued and Finka, both owned by a Hong Kong-based company, were no longer available on Apple and Android app stores. An Apple spokesperson told AFP, “Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps from the China storefront only.” The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is the country’s top internet regulator and censor. In recent months, it has taken action against social media platforms over content management. Apple added that Finka had earlier been voluntarily removed from stores outside China, while Blued was only available domestically. AFP was unable to reach the CAC or the apps’ owner for comment. An express version of Blued is still available in China, and an international version, HeeSay, can be downloaded outside the country. HeeSay’s store description notes it connects “54 million LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide.” In 2022, Grindr was removed from Chinese app stores during a CAC campaign ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics, but Blued remained accessible at that time.