Grindr, a popular hookup app, has agreed to a substantial settlement in the United Kingdom following a lawsuit accusing the company of sharing users’ sensitive information, such as HIV status, with advertisers. The California-based company will pay approximately $48.6 million CAD to about 12,000 individuals who joined the claim filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024. The lawsuit alleges that Grindr breached U.K. privacy laws by sharing user data, including HIV status, HIV test dates, PrEP usage, with third-party companies like Localytics and Apptimize for targeted advertising purposes.
Users willingly provide this information and have the option to display it on their profiles. However, the lawsuit claims that this data was shared with additional parties, potentially being sold to others beyond the initial recipients. Austen Hays emphasized Grindr’s importance in the 2SLGBTQ+ community for facilitating connections and emphasized the need for accountability in handling user data.
Eligible claimants who used the free version of the app from 2016 to 2020 may receive £2,167 or $4,050 CAD each from the settlement. Grindr, a publicly traded company, plans to disburse the settlement in two parts by the end of 2026 and March 31, 2027, as stated in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Despite settling, Grindr denies any wrongdoing but acknowledges the concerns and loss of trust expressed by some U.K. users regarding the period before 2020. This legal issue in the U.K. followed a hefty fine imposed by Norway on Grindr for similar data-sharing violations. Grindr’s ownership history involving Chinese company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd. and subsequent divestment due to data concerns was also highlighted in the article.
Grindr, established in 2009, boasts over 15 million monthly active users globally and reported significant revenue in its latest investor report.