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Apple Removes Top LGBTQ+ Apps in China Amid Compliance

11/11/2025

42 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Apple removed Blued and Finka from the App Store in China after an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China.
The apps remain functional for users who had previously downloaded them.
An Apple spokesperson said the company complies with local laws, even as LGBTQ+ rights remain limited in China since homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997.
Blued is the largest gay dating app globally, with Finka the second-largest in China.

History

Historical Context

In 1997, China decriminalized homosexuality, marking a significant shift in LGBTQ+ rights after decades of repression, including a ban on male anal sex labeled as "hooliganism." However, ongoing censorship persists, as seen in 2021 when the Cyberspace Administration ordered Apple to remove popular gay dating apps, reflecting the continued struggle for LGBTQ+ expression amid restrictive local regulations.

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Story summary

Apple removed Blued and Finka from the App Store in China after an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China.
The apps remain functional for users who had previously downloaded them.
An Apple spokesperson said the company complies with local laws, even as LGBTQ+ rights remain limited in China since homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997.
Blued is the largest gay dating app globally, with Finka the second-largest in China.

1 / 2