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Apple has reportedly caved to pressure from the Chinese government and removed two popular gay dating apps from its App Store in the country.
Blued and Finka, which are the two largest gay dating apps in China according to The China Project, were removed from Apple’s App Store after the US company received an order from China’s Internet Regulatory and Censorship Authority, Wired reported.
“We follow the laws in the countries where we operate,” an Apple spokesperson said.
“Due to an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have only removed these two apps from the Chinese store.”
It represents a setback for China’s marginalized LGBTQ+ community, which lacks many of the same rights as heterosexual people.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997, but same-sex marriage is still not recognized in China, while censorship laws block films and TV shows with LGBTQ+ characters and storylines.
The popular LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr was removed from Apple’s App Store in China in 2022.
Users on social media have reported that apps still work on devices if they have already been downloaded.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who came out as gay in a personal essay in 2014, is considered one of the most influential voices in the LGBTQ+ community worldwide.
“Being gay has given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be a minority and insight into the challenges that people in other minority groups face every day,” he wrote in the essay.
“I don’t consider myself an activist, but I am aware of how much I have benefited from the sacrifices of others.
“The company I am so fortunate to lead has a long-standing commitment to human rights and equality for all… We will continue to fight for our values, and I believe that any CEO of this incredible company, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation, would do the same.”
Apple has also positioned itself as a progressive and inclusive company by releasing “Pride Edition” accessories during Pride Month and donating to LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
