Chinese flag and LGBT rainbow flag
Arkseipunferov | iStock | Getty Images
apple has confirmed that it has removed two popular gay dating apps from China’s iOS store following an order from Beijing’s main internet regulator and censorship authority.
This comes after reports that apps Blued and Finka suddenly disappeared from the iOS App Store over the weekend.
In a statement shared with CNBC, Apple acknowledged that it was behind this action and defended its position, saying it must follow the laws of the countries in which it operates.
“Based on orders from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we removed these two apps only from our Chinese storefront,” the company said, but clarified that the apps were no longer available in other countries.
However, the “lite” version of the Blued app is still available for download on China’s App Store, CNBC confirmed on Tuesday.
The Wire first reported that Apple made the move at the behest of the Chinese government.
The disappearances of Blued and Finka are the latest examples of China’s crackdown on app stores in recent years.
Popular American gay dating app Grindr was removed from the iOS store in 2022, days after the Cyberspace Administration of China began cracking down on content it deemed illegal and inappropriate.
In late 2023, the Chinese government announced a new policy requiring all apps serving local users to register with the government and obtain a license. The move resulted in a series of foreign apps being removed from iOS.
Over the next few years, regulators continued to directly challenge companies like Apple to remove certain apps due to problematic content.
In April 2024, Apple will meta WhatsApp and Threads available from iOS following orders from CAC, citing national security concerns.
Apple has proven itself willing to meet these demands in China, which represents its largest overseas market outside the United States.
The removal of Broud and Finca also likely reflects increased repression and censorship of the LGBTQ community in China. In recent years, the government has closed major rights organizations such as the Beijing LGBT Center.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997, but same-sex marriage is still not recognized.
—CNBC’s Evelyn Cheng contributed to this report.
