Apple has pulled two of China’s largest gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its App Store after receiving an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s top internet regulator.
In a statement to The Independent, Apple confirmed compliance with the directive, saying:
“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.”
Both Blued and Finka are widely used platforms within China’s LGBTQ+ community, which already faces limited legal protections and significant social restrictions. While homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997, same-sex marriage remains illegal, and LGBTQ+-themed media are routinely censored.
This move mirrors previous crackdowns — including the 2022 removal of Grindr from the Chinese App Store — and underscores the tightening digital control over queer spaces in China.
Users who already have the apps installed report they remain functional for now.
Apple’s decision also highlights a growing tension between the company’s global advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and its compliance with restrictive local laws in major markets like China.
CEO Tim Cook, who came out publicly as gay in 2014, has long promoted equality and inclusion, with Apple regularly supporting global Pride initiatives and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
The latest removals underscore the ongoing challenges facing LGBTQ+ expression in China’s increasingly regulated online landscape.
