Sugarbook
Southeast Asian online dating service
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sugarbook is an online dating service that was founded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[1] Sugarbook is most popular in the Southeast Asian countries of Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines.[2]
Type of site | Online dating service Social network service |
|---|---|
| Owner | Darren Chan Eu Boon |
| URL | sugarbook |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Yes |
| Launched | 2016 |
| Current status | Active |
The site is controversial in Malaysia, the country where it was founded.[3] On February 23, 2021, Sugarbook founder and CEO, Darren Chan was arrested by Malaysian police[4] and put in lockup for 10 days, as authorities in the Muslim-majority country believed that Chan had violated anti-prostitution laws.[5]
History
Sugarbook was founded by Darren Chan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2016. The site focuses on connecting "sugar daddies" with "sugar babies."[6] The "sugar babies" can register for free, while the "sugar daddies" pay membership fees to find matches.[7]
Controversy
Formula One sponsorship
In 2018, Sugarbook had sponsored a party as part of the Singapore Tourism Board's Formula One-themed Sky Grande Prix event, but it was cancelled due to the controversial nature of the company's platform.[8][9]
Arrest of founder and ban in Malaysia
On February 23, 2021, Sugarbook Founder and CEO, Darren Chan was arrested and put in lockup for 10 days.[10][11][12][13] The arrest was internationally condemned, prompting attorneys and netizens to questions its legality. Chan later pleaded not guilty to the charges.[14]
Sugarbook was also blocked by Malaysian ISPs, but users in Malaysia found ways to bypass the blocks, such as using VPNs. There was a public outcry across the Asia-Pacific region, with the media publishing articles about the controversy in Thailand, Singapore, and Hong Kong.[15]
A day after the ban the company circumvented the block by using the URL sucrebook.com.[16][17]
On April 4, 2021, Darren Chan spoke out about the case to VICE News.[18] Chan's arrest also prompted coverage from the BBC, New York Post,[19] Astro AEC, among others.
Google Play ban
As of September 1, 2021, Google has banned Sugarbook and a number of other sugar baby apps from its Google Play store.[20][21]
