Lead: Apple has removed two widely used gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its China App Store after an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China. The move, confirmed by an Apple spokesperson, was limited to Apple’s China storefront and follows a broader regulatory tightening on apps serving domestic users. The step has alarmed LGBT users and advocacy observers inside China, where some services remain available in reduced or alternate forms. Authorities and the apps’ operators have been approached for comment but offered limited public detail.
Key Takeaways
- Apple removed Blued and Finka from the China App Store following an instruction from the Cyberspace Administration of China; the removal applies only to Apple’s China storefront.
- Blued, one of China’s largest gay dating platforms, has been downloaded tens of millions of times and still has a “lite” version available in some Chinese app stores.
- Other gay or bisexual dating apps such as Jicco and Jack’d remain accessible in China, primarily through local Android ecosystems and alternative app marketplaces.
- In 2022, the US-based app Grindr was removed from Apple’s China App Store amid a wider content crackdown by regulators.
- New 2023 Chinese rules require apps serving domestic users to register for licences — a policy Beijing says is meant to standardise and ensure the “healthy development” of the internet industry.
- Homosexuality was decriminalised in China in 1997, but same-sex marriage is not legally recognised and several domestic LGBT advocacy groups have suspended operations in recent years.
Background
China operates a distinct app ecosystem: Apple maintains a separate App Store for mainland China and Google Play is blocked, so Android devices rely on locally adapted stores and manufacturer marketplaces. That regulatory separation gives Chinese authorities more direct control over what appears in app storefronts available to domestic users. Since 2022, regulators have intensified scrutiny of content they deem “illegal or inappropriate,” resulting in a string of removals and restrictions affecting both domestic and foreign apps.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has pushed new oversight measures, including a 2023 requirement that apps serving the domestic market obtain formal licences and comply with content rules. Beijing presents these steps as efforts to standardise the industry and protect users, while critics say the rules increase censorship and reduce the space for marginalised groups online. Against this regulatory backdrop, platforms that serve sexual minorities face legal, social and commercial pressures that influence how they operate and whether they remain visible in Chinese app marketplaces.
Main Event
In the latest action, Apple confirmed it removed Blued and Finka from its China App Store after receiving an order from the CAC. An Apple spokesperson said the company follows local laws and that the removals apply only to the China storefront; the apps remain available in other countries’ stores. BBC reporting found that a “lite” version of Blued is still offered through some Chinese app marketplaces, suggesting partial continuity of services for some users.
Blued is widely used in China and has recorded tens of millions of downloads since its launch, serving as both a dating app and a social platform for gay and bisexual men. Finka, while smaller, is recognised within app-market listings as another niche service catering to gay users. After Apple’s announcement, the BBC contacted the Chinese embassy in Washington and the companies behind both apps seeking comment; responses were limited or not publicly posted at the time of reporting.
The removals echo an earlier 2022 case when the US-based app Grindr was taken down from Apple’s China App Store amid increased regulatory action on content. Industry observers note that the 2023 licensing push has already led to a wave of foreign and domestic apps being delisted or forced to alter content, registration, and data practices to remain available to Chinese users.
Analysis & Implications
The immediate effect of the removals is reduced storefront visibility for users who rely on Apple’s App Store to discover and download apps. For LGBT users on iOS devices in China, the change may limit easier access to community and dating platforms, pushing some users toward Android alternatives or web-based services. That shift can fragment online communities and complicate moderation and safety practices that apps provide, such as reporting abusive users or sharing health information.
Politically and socially, the move underscores continuing sensitivity around sexual minority content in China’s online governance. While homosexuality is not a crime in China, the state has shown a reluctance to allow broad public organising or advocacy on LGBT issues; multiple advocacy groups have curtailed activity or ceased operations in recent years. Regulatory pressure on apps is therefore not only a commercial or technical issue but also intersects with broader limits on civil society space.
Economically, app removals carry commercial risks for platform operators: delisting from a major storefront reduces market reach and ad or subscription revenue and may increase costs for compliance and legal counsel. App operators that want to remain in China must weigh licensing, content moderation, and potential data-localisation requirements against mission and user trust. For international tech firms like Apple, complying with local orders presents reputational trade-offs abroad even as it enables continued market access in China.
Comparison & Data
| App | Action | Year | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blued | Removed from Apple China storefront | 2025 | “Lite” versions remain in some Chinese app stores |
| Finka | Removed from Apple China storefront | 2025 | Delisted on Apple China; other channels unclear |
| Grindr | Removed from Apple China storefront | 2022 | Delisted in China |
The table illustrates a pattern of app delistings in recent years. While exact download numbers vary by source, Blued’s user base is commonly reported as in the tens of millions, which amplifies the practical impact of a China-specific removal. Developers and rights groups warn such removals can disproportionately affect marginalised communities that rely on niche digital services for social connection and information.
Reactions & Quotes
Apple framed the action as compliance with local law. Context: Apple has historically followed national regulations in markets where it operates separate storefronts, and this step aligns with that approach.
“We follow the laws of 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.”
Apple spokesperson (statement to media)
Members of China’s LGBT community responded with concern and frustration, emphasising the personal and social costs of reduced visibility for queer platforms. The quote below captures the sentiment of those who see dating apps as space for connection in a context where public acceptance and legal recognition are limited.
“I hope those heterosexual policymakers can understand that love is rare – it’s not something shameful or unspeakable.”
Chinese LGBT app user (quoted in reporting)
The online regulator has defended stricter app oversight as industry standardisation. Observers note the regulator’s language frames the measures in terms of public order and industry health rather than targeting specific communities.
“The rules are designed to promote the standardised and healthy development of the internet industry.”
Cyberspace Administration of China (public statement)
Unconfirmed
- It is not confirmed whether the CAC order targets content specific to gay and bisexual users or broader compliance failures by the apps; public documents did not detail exact violations.
- There is no public confirmation that Apple or the apps will face further measures beyond the China-store removals, such as server seizures or broader national bans.
- Reports of whether the “lite” version of Blued will remain indefinitely or be subject to future delisting are not independently verified.
Bottom Line
The delisting of Blued and Finka from Apple’s China App Store is the latest instance of intensified regulatory control over digital platforms in China and carries outsized effects for minority communities that depend on niche online services. While Apple says the removals were in response to a formal order and apply only within the China storefront, the practical result is reduced visibility and simpler access routes for affected iOS users.
Looking ahead, platform operators and civil-society observers will watch whether regulators extend enforcement or clarify the legal grounds for such removals. For users, the episode highlights the fragility of digital spaces for LGBT communities under shifting regulatory regimes and signals the need to consider alternate, secure channels for connection and information-sharing.
Sources
- BBC News — (international news outlet; reporting on Apple, Blued, and Finka)
- Apple Newsroom — (company statement repository; Apple spokesperson comments)
- Cyberspace Administration of China — (official regulator site; policy announcements)
- Blued — (company site; platform information)