Grindr, the dating app, has reached a settlement in a U.K. lawsuit where it was accused of sharing sensitive user data, such as HIV status, with advertisers. The California-based company has agreed to pay £26 million (about $48.6 million Cdn) to around 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 before April 2020 by sharing user data with other companies for payment or commercial benefits. This data included details like HIV status, recent testing information, and PrEP usage. Users provided this information voluntarily and could choose to display it on their profiles.
According to the claim, this sensitive data was shared with third-party companies like Localytics and Apptimize, which could use it to target ads. The lawsuit suggests that this data may have also been sold to other parties.
Austen Hays mentioned that Grindr is crucial for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, facilitating connections for gay, bisexual, trans, and queer adults. The law firm emphasized the need for Grindr to be accountable and regain users’ trust regarding their data handling practices.
Eligible claimants who used the free version of the app between 2016 and 2020 are entitled to receive £2,167 or $4,050 Cdn each if distributed equally. Grindr plans to pay out the settlement in two installments, with the first half by the end of this year and the remaining amount by March 31, 2027.
Grindr clarified that the settlement does not include any admission of liability. The company acknowledged the concerns raised by some U.K. users regarding the period before 2020, even though it disputes the allegations.
In a related development, Norway fined Grindr in 2021 for unlawfully sharing user data, a decision that Grindr unsuccessfully appealed in 2024. Grindr was formerly owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd., a Chinese gaming company, between 2018 and 2020. The U.S. government ordered Kunlun to divest from Grindr due to data handling concerns, leading to its sale to San Vicente Acquisition LLC in 2020.
Grindr, established in 2009, boasts over 15 million monthly active users globally. In the second quarter of 2026, the app generated $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in revenue, as per its latest investor report.
