FOLLOW US

Launched in 2009, Grindr is a dating service that's enjoyed mainly by gay or bisexual men and the transgender community. The app helps people connect with one another by using the GPS on their mobile devices to pinpoint close matches.

Some individuals have the app to simply chat with nearby connections. Others rely on Grindr for in-person meet-ups, finding relationships, or even hooking up. Whatever the case may be, the app has been around for quite some time and it's done fairly well among its demographic(s) of users.

However, this could quickly be changing. Grindr currently faces a lawsuit from plaintiffs who accuse the dating service of sharing users' personal information with advertisers.

These are some serious accusations

The lawsuit against Grindr isn't based here in America, but is instead playing out in the United Kingdom.

According to the plaintiffs involved, the company transgressed data protection regulations by giving advertisers full access to Grindr users' HIV status, sexual orientation, and intimate life details. Individuals suing the company also say they never consented to advertisers getting access to such personal information.

Austen Hays filed the lawsuit that hundreds of people have signed onto. The law firm based out of London also issued a public statement about what all is happening with litigation.

According to Austen Hays, Grindr owes members of the LGBTQ+ community monetary compensation for both data breaches and emotional distress. The British law firm went on to declare that the dating service must assure the safety of all app users, along with the protection of their personal information.

Grindr denies all claims

In response to the lawsuit, Grindr issued a public statement claiming innocence. The company says safeguarding the personal data of users and adhering to data protection laws remain among its top priorities.

Furthermore, it is Grindr's view that it "never" leaked personal user information to advertisers for "commercial" or monetary purposes. Grindr also maintains that the current lawsuit it faces in the United Kingdom is a result of a "mischaracterization" of its operations dating back years.

The U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office feels differently. Just two years ago, the agency admonished Grindr for infringing on personal data laws and being less than transparent regarding the management of personal information.