China Orders Removal of Popular Gay Dating Apps from Mobile Stores

Chinese authorities have directed the removal of two widely used gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from mobile app stores in China, Apple confirmed to AFP on Tuesday

Same-sex marriage remains illegal in China, and LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face widespread discrimination. Activists note that government efforts to limit LGBTQ+ expression have intensified in recent years, especially under President Xi Jinping

Over the weekend, social media users in China observed that the full versions of Blued and Finka, both owned by a Hong Kong-based company, had disappeared from Apple’s and Android’s app stores

“Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps from the China storefront only,” an Apple spokesperson told AFP

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) serves as the country’s top internet regulator and censorship authority, recently penalizing platforms for content management violations

Apple added that Finka’s developer had earlier removed the app from stores outside China, and Blued was only available in China. AFP could not immediately reach the CAC or the apps’ owner for comment

 Also read : Two Arrested for Orchestrating Fake Robbery on British Man, Stealing Ksh.800,000 in Nyali

An express version of Blued is still downloadable from Apple’s Chinese store, and the international version, HeeSay, remains available outside China, claiming to connect “54 million LGBTQ+ individuals worldwide”

This move follows the 2022 removal of Grindr from Chinese stores during a CAC content review ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics, though Blued had remained available at that time

Writer : Mweru Mbugua