Grindr Accused of Data Protection Breaches in UK

Dating app Grindr is facing a class action lawsuit in London alleging it failed to protect users' data and shared personal information, including HIV status, with third parties without permission.

Law firm Aston said the case is pending at the High Court in London and could affect thousands of Grindr users in the UK. The company alleges that users' highly confidential information, including HIV status and date of last HIV test, was provided to third parties for commercial purposes.

In a statement to The Guardian, Grindr said it “plans to vigorously respond to this allegation, which is based on the alleged misconduct of its practices dating back four years.”

Aston Hayes said about 670 people signed the class action lawsuit dealing with incidents that allegedly took place between 2018 and 2020. The office says thousands of users could join the lawsuit.

Saya Hanumanji, managing director of Austen Hays, said: “Grindr owes it to the LGBTQ+ community to help compensate those whose data was compromised and who suffered as a result, and to ensure that all its users are safe. Application, wherever they are, without fear that their data may be shared with third parties.

Grindr did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

“We are proud of our global privacy program and take privacy very seriously,” the company told The Guardian.