Grindr Removed in China due to Privacy Issues

Operators and owners of Grindr, a queer dating and hookup app, removed the app from China’s app stores regarding issues with new privacy laws.

According to them, a new law called the PIPL, or Personal Information Protection Law, took effect in quarter 4 of 2021. This law requires international info that the Chinese Government must approve personally.

The law was inspired by Europe’s GDPR, the General Data Protection Regulation, and both function to limit personal information stored in apps. Grindr is one among many companies to have their apps removed for this reason.

This removal came after China announced a crackdown on any content they deem vulgar, violent, or obscene. This crackdown also branches out to censor and remove rumors and misinformation that people may attempt to spread online. Other targets are depictions of wealth, mukbangs, and fortune readers.

The tightening of cybersecurity is meant to light up the runway for the Olympics, keeping the internet cleaned up in the months leading up to the major sporting event. the intention was to create a “healthy, happy, peaceful online environment,” according to CNN. 

The internet cleanup works by carefully managing social media, trending topic lists, and other places people might otherwise collectively absorb information in order to keep an air of positivity, and keep people’s spirits high leading up to the festive games, as well as Chinese New Year.

As them points out, there is no specific aim towards LGBTQ content, except for the technical removal of Grindr due to earlier specified issues. There is also a ban on what can only be referred to as “sissy idols.” whether this is an unfortunate bad translation, or vague phrasing giving the officials leeway to use their subjective points of view to enact their cleanup, it is not specifically made clear what a “sissy idol” is. Them thinks this could be in reference to BTS and its effeminate qualities.

China’s cleanup appears to be for the greater good, however with a trained eye one could definitely observe wrongdoings done in preventing some groups or people from spreading desperately needed awareness.