Apple Bows to China, Removes Gay Dating Apps from App Store

Apple has pulled two of China’s top gay dating apps from its App Store after receiving an order from the country’s internet regulator, marking another setback for the nation’s LGBTQ+ community.

According to a report from WIRED, both Blued and Finka were removed following a directive from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). “We follow the laws in 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 said in a statement.

While both apps remain functional for users who already have them installed, they are no longer available for new downloads on either iOS or Android app stores in the country. Apple clarified that the two apps also haven’t been available internationally for a while. “Earlier this year, the developer of Finka elected to remove the app from storefronts outside of China, and Blued was available only in China.”

The move stands in stark contrast to Apple’s long-standing messaging around inclusivity and human rights — values often championed by CEO Tim Cook, who publicly came out as gay in 2014. However, the company continues to operate under the constraints of Chinese law. In recent years, Beijing has often ordered Apple to remove apps from its local App Store, including a massive purge of over 46,000 apps in 2020, and communication tools like WhatsApp, Threads, Telegram, and Signal last year.

Apple’s latest compliance move also comes just weeks after Cook reaffirmed the company’s commitment to investing further in the Chinese market on a trip to Beijing. At the same time, regulators in China are reportedly preparing to scrutinize Apple’s App Store operations under a new investigation led by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), mirroring similar probes in the EU, U.S., and beyond.

It’s unclear whether Blued or Finka will be reinstated. For now, the removal underscores the growing tension between Apple’s public values and its need to navigate one of its most tightly controlled — yet strategically vital — markets.