China's Cyberspace Administration has ordered the removal of two gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from Apple and Android app stores, targeting the country's LGBTQ community.
Details of the Ban
Apple confirmed the removal, stating it complied with local laws. The restriction applies only to the Chinese storefront. Users with prior downloads or via official websites remain unaffected. Blued and Finka have not commented.
- Finka was acquired by Blued's parent company in 2020.
- Blued was founded in 2012 in China and has over 40 million global users.
- The ban follows similar restrictions on Grindr, Tinder, Facebook, and Instagram.
LGBTQ Rights Environment
Government policies have been tightening around LGBTQ rights. In 2020, Shanghai Pride was suspended. Activists reported that these actions have stifled public LGBTQ activity.
