Grindr, a popular hookup app, has agreed to a significant payout following the settlement of a lawsuit in the U.K. The lawsuit, filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024, claimed that Grindr had unlawfully shared sensitive user information, including HIV status, with advertisers. The California-based company has agreed to pay £26 million (around $48.6 million Cdn) to approximately 12,000 individuals who joined the claim.
The lawsuit alleged that prior to April 2020, Grindr violated U.K. privacy laws by sharing user data, such as HIV status, recent testing information, and PrEP usage, with third-party companies like Localytics and Apptimize for targeted advertising purposes. The lawsuit further claimed that this data may have been sold to additional parties.
Austen Hays highlighted the importance of holding Grindr accountable for its handling of user data, especially considering its role in facilitating connections within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Eligible claimants who used the free version of the app between 2016 and 2020 are set to receive £2,167 or $4,050 Cdn each as part of the settlement.
Grindr emphasized in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing that the settlement does not imply any admission of liability. Despite disputing the allegations, Grindr acknowledged the concerns raised by U.K. users regarding the period preceding 2020. This legal action in the U.K. followed a similar case in Norway, where Grindr was fined for illegally sharing user data.
Grindr, known as the largest social networking app for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, was previously owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd. before being acquired by San Vicente Acquisition LLC in 2020. The U.S. government had mandated Kunlun to divest from Grindr due to data privacy concerns. The app boasts over 15 million monthly active users globally and reported significant revenue in its latest financial results.