Apple Removes Gay Dating Apps Blued and Finka from Chinese iOS Store Following Government Order
Apple has confirmed the removal of two popular gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its Chinese iOS store after receiving orders from China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The Cupertino-based tech giant took down the apps over the past weekend, citing compliance with local laws.
“Based on an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two apps from the China storefront only,” Apple stated in a message to CNBC.
A “lite” version of the Blued app remains available for download on the China App Store as of Tuesday. It’s important to note that both apps were already unavailable in other countries prior to this removal.
China’s Growing Control Over Digital Platforms
This removal reflects China’s expanding restrictions on digital content and app stores. In 2022, the U.S.-based gay dating app Grindr was pulled from the Chinese iOS store during a similar crackdown on content deemed illegal or inappropriate by Chinese authorities.
In 2023, Beijing introduced new policies mandating that all apps serving Chinese users must register with the government and obtain licenses. This regulatory shift led to a wave of foreign apps being removed from the iOS store across China.
Earlier in April 2024, Apple also removed Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese store following orders from the CAC, which cited national security concerns.
China is Apple’s largest overseas market outside the United States, and these removals highlight increasing government restrictions on LGBTQ content. The Chinese government has shut down major LGBTQ advocacy groups in recent years, including the Beijing LGBT Center. While homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997, same-sex marriage remains unrecognized.
Apple’s Recent Stock Performance
Despite these regulatory challenges, Apple’s stock has continued its upward momentum following strong Q4 earnings. The company reported better-than-expected demand for its iPhone 17 series and set record revenue in its Services segment.
Apple’s stock currently trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 40.4, supported by 6.0% revenue growth over the past twelve months. The company maintains a strong free cash flow margin of 23.5% and an operating margin of 31.9%.
Investors are closely watching Apple’s AI initiatives, particularly the “Apple Intelligence” program and its privacy-focused on-device AI capabilities. Additionally, India is projected to become Apple’s third-largest market by 2026, with an anticipated production value of $28 billion for the fiscal year 2026.
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