Malaysia has blocked access to the websites of dating apps Grindr and Blued, and is exploring legal steps to limit their availability on mobile app stores, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced in February.
In a written parliamentary reply, Fahmi stated that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has implemented website restrictions but has not yet received formal requests to remove the mobile app versions from Google Play or the Apple App Store. He noted significant jurisdictional challenges, as both apps are developed and owned by foreign companies operating outside Malaysia. “Control over applications on platforms such as Google Play and Apple Store is subject to regulations and policies set by the said platform providers,” Fahmi explained.
he government is actively reviewing legal options to curb such apps, focusing on content or services that violate Malaysian laws. Potential actions include requesting content removal from platforms, restricting access, or referring violations to enforcement agencies like the police for investigation. Fahmi highlighted concerns over material deemed to involve “lewd or immoral content, exploitation, abuse, scams, exploiting children or threats towards public safety.”
Grindr, a leading global LGBTQ+ dating app, has faced restrictions in several countries, including Indonesia, Turkey, Lebanon, Qatar, Pakistan, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. Blued, a Chinese-owned app popular among LGBTQ+ users, was removed from the Apple App Store in China in November 2025 following orders from the country’s internet regulator. The app and its sister platform Finka were also erased from locally adapted Android stores in China as of November 11, 2025.
