Chinese authorities have ordered Apple to remove two popular gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its app store in China. This move is part of a broader effort to suppress LGBTQ+ expression in the country, where same-sex marriage is not legal and discrimination is widespread. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s top internet regulator, has been cracking down on LGBTQ+ content and organizations, citing concerns about social order and traditional family values.
Apple has complied with the order, removing the apps from its China storefront. The company stated that it follows the laws in the countries where it operates. Blued and Finka, which share a Hong Kong-based owner, had already been removed from app stores outside of China earlier this year. The move has been met with concern from LGBTQ+ activists, who see it as a further restriction on their rights and freedoms.
The removal of these apps is part of a larger trend of increasing censorship and repression of LGBTQ+ individuals in China. The government has canceled Pride events, shut down LGBTQ+ organizations, and censored LGBTQ+ content on social media platforms. This has led to a growing sense of isolation and anxiety among LGBTQ+ individuals in China.
