Russian users reported problems accessing gay dating app Hornet; His website was previously blocked

Some Russian users of the popular gay dating app Hornet cannot open it in the country without VPN services . This was reported by the publication “Guys PLUS” with reference to readers.

In addition to problems within the application itself, users also cannot download updates for it. on the App Store and Google Play . It is still available

In early September, Roskomnadzor, at the request of Rosmolodezh, blocked website the Hornet , through which it was possible to use the browser version of the service. There were no interruptions in the operation of the mobile application at that time.

service The Hornet headquartered , which is in Los Angeles, estimates its global audience at 25 million users. The exact proportion of Russians among them is unknown. In the Russian AppStore , Hornet ranks 96th among social networks and dating applications.

A package of amendments on “LGBT propaganda”, adopted in December 2022, allowed websites with LGBT themes to be blocked without a court decision. Roskomnadzor thus restricted access to the websites of the group “Coming Out”, which helps representatives of LGBTQ+ people, publications GayPress and “Guys Plus” , as well as more than 300 pages from the site “Gender change and gay sex is cool”, which publishes satirical texts and anti-war statements .

Before this, the decision to block was made by the courts. Thus, a court in the Tomsk region in 2016 decided to block another gay dating site Bluesystem.ru .