In brief
Grindr agreed to a £26m settlement following a class‑action lawsuit over its handling of sensitive user data. The claim alleged that the company had shared HIV status and other personal information with third‑party analytics firms before 2020. Grindr disputes the allegations but acknowledges the distress caused, citing privacy reforms since 2020. The settlement, payable in two £13m installments, ends the legal dispute without an admission of wrongdoing.
Grindr agreed to a £26m payment to settle a class‑action lawsuit that accused the company of sharing users’ HIV status and other personal data with third‑party analytics firms during the period before 2020.
The lawsuit was brought in the UK High Court in 2024 and was later served in the United States, where over 11,000 claimants were identified. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the settlement will be paid in two £13m instalments by 31 December and 31 March 2027.
While Grindr disputes the allegations, it acknowledges the distress experienced by users whose data was allegedly shared without consent. The company stresses that the claims refer to “historical data practices” performed before 2020 when it was owned by Chinese firm Kunlun.
Grindr said it stopped sharing HIV status information with analytics firms following earlier revelations, and since 2020 it has overhauled its privacy practices to better protect the unique needs of its community.
Regulatory fines have already been imposed: Norway’s data protection watchdog fined the company £5.5 million, and the UK Information Commissioner's Office reprimanded it for its data practices.
