Apple pulls two gay dating apps in China under government order

Apple has removed two of China’s most prominent gay dating apps from its App Store following pressure from Chinese authorities, in what observers see as part of a broader crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community in the country.

An Apple spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press that Blued and Finka were taken down “based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China,” adding simply, “We follow the laws in the countries where we operate.”

Verification by AP reporters on Tuesday confirmed both apps were unavailable on Apple’s App Store in China, though a stripped-down “express” version of Blued remained accessible. The differences between the full and express versions weren’t immediately clear, nor was it apparent whether Android versions of the apps might still be operational through other channels.

According to Apple, Blued was offered “only in China,” while Finka’s developer “elected to remove the app” from markets outside of China earlier this year. This isn’t the first major gay dating app to disappear from Chinese app stores – Grindr was similarly pulled from Apple’s platform in China in 2022.

Both Blued and Finka are operated by BlueCity, a Chinese company focused on serving LGBTQ+ communities both domestically and internationally. BlueCity was previously listed on the Nasdaq but was taken private in 2022 when it delisted from the exchange.

The removal highlights the intensifying pressure on LGBTQ+ communities and advocacy organizations in China, despite homosexuality having been decriminalized in the country back in 1997. In recent years, several LGBTQ+ groups have been forced to shut down operations, and advocacy work has faced increasing restrictions.

These developments reflect a concerning trend of shrinking space for sexual minorities in China’s digital landscape. While the country no longer criminalizes same-sex relationships, authorities have steadily tightened controls over LGBTQ+ content and visibility in media, education, and online spaces.

Industry analysts point to this as another example of Apple’s compliance with Chinese government demands. “Among all foreign tech companies that provide services to Chinese users, Apple is probably the one which is most willing to comply with Chinese internet regulations,” noted George Chen, partner and co-chair of digital practice at The Asia Group.

Chen suggested that Apple “rarely pushes back on Chinese government’s takedown requests” because the Chinese market, particularly iPhone sales, is “too important” for the tech giant. This aligns with Apple’s previous actions in China, where it reportedly removed other major apps including WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store last year, also following directives from the Cyberspace Administration of China.

The pattern reflects the challenging position foreign technology companies face when operating in China, where compliance with local regulations often means implementing content restrictions that would be controversial in Western markets.

For China’s LGBTQ+ community, the removal of these dating platforms represents another setback in an environment where digital spaces had provided important avenues for connection and community-building. Dating apps like Blued had emerged as crucial tools for LGBTQ+ individuals to meet others safely, particularly in a society where many still face family pressure and social stigma.

The situation underscores the growing tension between global tech companies’ stated values of openness and inclusion and the compromises they make to maintain access to the world’s largest consumer market. For now, Apple’s decision to comply with Chinese authorities leaves millions of LGBTQ+ users in China with fewer digital options to connect with their communities.