Grindr is potentially facing lawsuits from numerous users who allege that the dating app shared extremely confidential personal data with advertising firms, including disclosing their HIV status in some instances.
Law firm Austin Hayes is preparing to sue the app’s American owners in London’s High Court, claiming a breach of UK data protection laws.
The firm asserts that thousands of Grindr users in the UK had their information misused. They state that 670 individuals have already signed the claim, with “thousands more” showing interest in joining.
Grinder has stated it will vigorously respond to these allegations, pointing out that they are based on an inaccurate evaluation of past policies.
Established in 2009 to facilitate interactions among gay men, Grindr is currently the largest dating app worldwide for gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals, boasting millions of users.
The lawsuit against Grindr in the High Court centers on claims of personal data sharing with two advertising companies. It also suggests that these companies may have further sold the data to other entities.
New users may not be eligible to take part, as the claims against Grindr primarily cover the period before April 3, 2018, and between May 25, 2018, and April 7, 2020. Grindr updated its consent process in April 2020.
Los Angeles-headquartered Grindr ceased passing on users’ HIV status to third parties in April 2018 following a report by Norwegian researchers uncovering data sharing with two firms. In 2021, Norway’s data protection authority imposed a NOK 65 million fine on Grindr for violating data protection laws.
Grinder appealed the decision from Norway.
The Norwegian ruling does not specifically address the alleged sharing of a user’s HIV status, recognizing that a user registered on Grindr is likely associated with the gay or bisexual community, making such data sensitive.
Chaya Hanumanjee, managing director at Austin Hayes leading the case, remarked, “Our clients suffer greatly when their highly sensitive data is shared without consent, leading to fear, embarrassment, and anxiety.”
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“Grindr is dedicated to compensating those impacted by the data breach and ensuring all users can safely utilize the app without fear of their data being shared with third parties,” Hanumanjee added.
The law firm believes that affected users might be entitled to significant damages but did not disclose details.
A spokesperson from Grindr stated, “We prioritize safeguarding your data and adhering to all relevant privacy regulations, including in the UK. Our global privacy program demonstrates our commitment to privacy, and we will vigorously address this claim.”
Source: www.theguardian.com
