Apple has removed two of China’s most popular gay dating apps — Blued and Finka — from its App Store after receiving a directive from the country’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The decision has sparked fresh debate about the growing suppression of LGBTQ+ spaces and online expression in China.
According to a report by The Guardian, both apps disappeared from Apple’s China App Store earlier this week after regulators ordered their removal, citing “content management violations.” Apple confirmed the action, saying it had no choice but to comply with local laws. “We are obligated to follow the regulations of countries where we operate,” the company said in a statement.
Blued, founded in 2012, was once hailed as a symbol of progress for China’s LGBTQ+ community, boasting more than 40 million registered users worldwide. The platform even went public on the Nasdaq in 2020 before delisting in 2022 amid growing state pressure on online platforms. Finka, another widely used gay social networking app, has also been inaccessible to Chinese users since the order took effect.
While the government has not officially explained its decision, digital rights groups say it reflects a broader effort to tighten control over online spaces that cater to marginalized communities. In recent years, LGBTQ+ accounts on Chinese social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo have been repeatedly shut down or censored.
Human rights advocates criticized Apple’s compliance, saying the company continues to “prioritize market access over human rights.” However, Apple has long maintained that it must obey local laws to continue operating in China — one of its largest markets.
Users who previously downloaded Blued or Finka can still access the apps for now, but new downloads are blocked. The move has left many in China’s queer community feeling increasingly isolated in a digital environment that is rapidly closing off avenues of connection and self-expression.
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