The Ministry of Communications and Information on Friday has said Indonesia is seeking to block gay-friendly mobile applications, adding to a series of measures targeting sexual and gender minorities in the country.
The ministry’s spokesman, Noor Iza, has requested that U.S. technology giants Google and Apple block more than a dozen gay dating apps from their app stores for the Indonesian market.
“Three of the apps, BoyAhoy, Grindr and Blued have been singled out for an immediate ban.
“For the time being we are prioritising those three apps because those are the most obvious in their promotion of sexual deviance,’’ Iza said.
Report says the three apps are still accessible on the Google Play store and Apple’s app store.
The move came after police arrested two people in August accused of using mobile apps to lure minors and connect them with “gay clients” to have sex.
Human rights groups have voiced concerns over growing hostilities against sexual and gender minorities following remarks by some officials denouncing homosexuals.
Anti-gay sentiment in the mainly Muslim country rose earlier this year after Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir banned university groups advocating for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people. (dpa/NAN)