GAY dating app Grindr has disappeared from multiple app stores in China, as authorities tighten control of the already heavily policed Internet in the country and purge online behaviour disliked by the ruling Communist Party.

China’s cyber authority is in the midst of a month-long campaign to root out illegal and sensitive content during the Lunar New Year holiday and February’s Winter Olympics.

Although the most populous nation worldwide decriminalised homosexuality in 1997, same-sex marriage is illegal and LGBTQ issues remain taboo.

The LGBTQ community is under pressure as censorship of web content combines with a ban on depictions of gay romance in films.

Data from mobile research firm Qimai shows that Grindr has been removed from Apple’s App Store in China on Thursday.

Searches for the matchmaking app on Android and similar platforms operated by Chinese companies also returned no results. Google’s Play Store is not available in China.

Neither Grindr nor Apple responded to AFP requests for comment.

However, local Grindr competitors such as Blued remain available for download.

The Chinese former owner of Grindr, Beijing Kunlun Tech, sold the app to investors in 2020 under pressure from US authorities concerned that the potential misuse of its data can present national security risks.

The cyberspace administration announced a drive to crack down on rumours, pornography and other web content today.

The campaign aims to “create a civilised, healthy, festive and auspicious online atmosphere for public opinion during the Lunar New Year”, said the administration in a statement.

Last year, social media accounts belonging to major university LGBTQ rights groups were blocked from the popular WeChat app. – AFP, January 31, 2022.