Grindr Sued for Allegedly Sharing Users' HIV Status and Sexual Orientation Data with Advertisers

Hundreds of Grindr users in the UK have filed a class action lawsuit against the popular gay dating app, alleging that it unlawfully shared their highly sensitive personal information, including HIV status and sexual orientation, with third-party advertising companies without their consent. The lawsuit, filed at London's High Court by the law firm Austen Hays, claims that thousands of UK Grindr users may have been affected by the data breach, which occurred between 2018 and 2020.

According to the lawsuit, Grindr shared users' data, such as their ethnicity, sexual preferences, and even the date of their last HIV test, with companies like Localytics and Apptimize for targeted advertising purposes. The alleged breaches took place before April 2018 and between May 2018 and April 2020. The law firm believes that some users could be entitled to thousands of pounds in damages for the distress caused by the misuse of their personal information.

Grindr has denied the allegations, stating that it has never shared user-reported health information for commercial purposes and that the claims are based on a mischaracterization of practices from more than four years ago. The company has said it intends to respond "vigorously" to the lawsuit.

Why this matters: The case highlights growing concerns over data privacy and the responsibility of tech companies to protect users' sensitive information. It also underscores the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, who may be at greater risk of discrimination or persecution if their personal data is compromised.

This is not the first time Grindr has faced scrutiny over its data protection practices. In 2021, Norway's data protection authority fined the company 65 million Norwegian krone (£4.8 million) for violating the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation by unlawfully sharing personal data with third parties for marketing purposes. Grindr has appealed against the decision.

Chaya Hanoomanjee, the managing director of Austen Hays, has called on Grindr to compensate those whose data has been compromised and to ensure the safety of all its users. "Our clients have experienced significant distress as a result of their highly sensitive data being shared without their consent," Hanoomanjee said. "Grindr owes it to the LGBTQ+ community to compensate them and ensure that their data is safe while using the app."

Key Takeaways

• Hundreds of Grindr users in UK file class action lawsuit over data breach.
• Grindr allegedly shared users' sensitive data, including HIV status, with ad firms.
• Lawsuit claims thousands of UK users affected between 2018-2020.
• Grindr denies allegations, says claims mischaracterize practices from over 4 years ago.
• Case highlights data privacy concerns and risks for LGBTQ+ community.