Apple has removed two of the products from its store in China. gay dating appsBlued and Finka, following an instruction from the country's internet regulator. The decision has been confirmed by the company, which states that it is acting in accordance with the order. Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
According to various sources, the platforms disappeared from the Chinese App Store and several local Android storefronts, although They remain operational for those who already had them installed.In parallel, Apple indicates that Outside of China the impact is limitedBlued had long been restricted to the domestic market and Finka's developer had removed it from other stores before.
What happened and why?
Over the weekend they began to circulate announcements on Chinese social media Regarding the disappearance of Blued and Finka from app stores, media outlets such as WIRED and AFP later confirmed that the removal was due to a CAC order and applied only to the App Store in China.
Apple emphasized in a statement that it "complies with the laws of the countries where it operates" and, pursuant to the regulator's instruction, It removed the apps only from the local iOS store.In the Chinese Android ecosystem, where multiple marketplaces coexist, withdrawals were also reported. extending the blockade beyond Apple's environment.
Although the full versions are no longer available for new downloads, some users point out that the "light" version Blued was still visible in the Chinese store and both apps They continue to work if they were previously downloaded on the devices.
Censorship and the situation of the LGBTQ+ community in China
China decriminalized homosexuality in the 1990s (in 1997), but It does not recognize same-sex marriage.In recent years, activists have denounced increased pressure on the LGBTQ+ community, with the closure of organizations and routine censorship of LGBTQ+ content and accounts on social media.
In this context, it is not an isolated incident: Grindr was removed from the Chinese App Store in 2022Authorities have launched regular campaigns against content they deem problematic, and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment on this latest move.
Blued, Finka and a marketplace with millions of users
blued It reached remarkable figures: more than 49 million registered users and 6 million monthly active users, according to its then parent company BlueCity, which went public in 2020. That same year BlueCity acquired Finka for about $33 million.
After its time on the stock exchange, BlueCity ceased trading in 2022 and was bought by Newborn Town, based in Hong Kong. After the operation, part of the original team, including its founder, Ma Baoli, he left the company, according to internal testimonies.
In July, Blued temporarily suspended the registration of new users without explanationwhich led some interested parties to pay up to $20 for second-hand accounts on e-commerce platforms. Registration was reactivated in mid-August.
In 2024, the International version Blued adopted the name HeeSay, gaining particular traction in India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. This app remains available in app stores outside of China, limiting the scope of the withdrawal beyond the Chinese market.
BlueCity also diversified into the healthcare sector with The Health, a digital pharmacy and online clinic focused on men's sexual health, including STI care. Its social arm announced that An HIV testing program was recognized by the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party. among the best local volunteer projects.
Temporary or definitive measure?
There is no confirmation as to whether the elimination will be temporary or permanentOccasionally, some apps have returned to the stores after implementing changes requested by the regulator. BlueCity and Newborn Town did not respond to requests for comment on their next steps.
What changes for users in Spain and Europe
For European users, the scope is limitedBlued was only available in China, and Finka's developer had already withdrawn it from international markets earlier this year. The international alternative, HeeSayIt remains accessible in the EU, so the practical impact outside of China is limited.
Beyond the immediate effect, the movement fuels the debate about how Big tech companies balance regulatory compliance in key markets with the protection of digital rights and inclusion, especially when it comes to content linked to the LGBTQ+ community.
The removal of Blued and Finka from the Chinese App Store illustrates a pattern already seen: regulatory pressure on the country's digital ecosystemquick decisions by the platforms and room for maneuver for those who already had the apps installedMeanwhile, the rest of the users are left without new downloads, waiting to find out if there will be changes or a return to the stores under new conditions.