By CHAN HO-HIM
BANGKOK (AP) — Apple said it has pulled two of China’s biggest gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, under pressure from Chinese authorities, in the latest sign of a tightening grip on the LGBTQ+ community.
Related Articles
Watchdog group Public Citizen demands OpenAI withdraw AI video app Sora over deepfake dangers OpenAI faces 7 lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide, delusions Zuckerberg, Chan shift bulk of philanthropy to science, focusing on AI and biology to curb disease Denmark eyes new law to protect citizens from AI deepfakes Gemini AI to transform Google Maps into a more conversational experienceAn Apple spokesperson said in a statement that the company removed the two dating apps from China “based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China”, without further elaborating.
“We follow the laws in the countries where we operate,” the spokesperson told The Associated Press.
A check by The Associated Press on Tuesday found that the two apps are not available on Apple’s app store in China, although an “express” version of Blued could still be found. It was unclear what the difference is between the full and express versions or if an Android version might be available.
Blued was available “only in China,” Apple said. Finka’s developer “elected to remove the app” outside of China earlier this year, the company added.
Another popular gay dating app, Grindr, was pulled from Apple’s app store in China in 2022.
China’s LGBTQ+ community and advocacy groups are under intensifying pressure from authorities, even though the country decriminalized homosexuality in 1997. Some LGBTQ+ groups have been forced to cease operations in recent years in China and activism has been constrained.
Blued and Finka have the same parent company, BlueCity, a China-founded company that focuses on the LGBTQ+ community in China and abroad. BlueCity was delisted from the Nasdaq in 2022, when it was taken private.
Last year, Apple also reportedly removed apps including WhatsApp and Threads from its app store in China under an order by the Cyberspace Administration of China.
“Among all foreign tech companies that provide services to Chinese users, Apple is probably the one which is most willing to comply with Chinese internet regulations,” said George Chen, partner and co-chair of digital practice at The Asia Group.
Apple “rarely pushes back on Chinese government’s takedown requests as Chinese markets,” including sales of iPhones, is “too important” for them, Chen added.
AP writers Kelvin Chan in London and Kanis Leung in Hong Kong contributed to this story.
Hence then, the article about apple pulls two gay dating apps in china under government order was published today ( ) and is available on The Orange County Register ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Apple pulls two gay dating apps in China under government order )
Also on site :
- Tornado warning issued, and quickly cancelled, over Alhambra
- Governor Hochul: Annual statewide donation drive is complete
- Skier dies in collision with tree at Colorado’s Aspen Mountain, resort officials confirm