By Haliru Idris
Chinese authorities have ordered the removal of two popular gay dating applications from mobile stores in the country, Apple has confirmed to AFP.
The development affects Blued and Finka, both owned by a Hong Kong-based firm, which disappeared from Apple and Android stores over the weekend.
According to Apple, the action followed a directive from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s national internet regulator and top censor.
The agency has recently intensified content control measures, penalising several social media platforms for alleged lapses in content management.
Herald gathered that same-sex marriage remains illegal in China, where members of the LGBTQ community continue to face widespread discrimination. Activists have accused authorities of tightening restrictions on LGBTQ expression in recent years, particularly under President Xi Jinping.
Apple stated that it complies with the laws of the countries where it operates.
Earlier in the year, the developer of Finka voluntarily removed the app from stores outside China, while Blued was available exclusively within the country.
