Grindr, the popular hookup app, has agreed to a substantial settlement in a U.K. lawsuit over claims that it shared sensitive user information, such as HIV status, with advertisers. The California-based company will pay £26 million (around $48.6 million Cdn) to about 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 by sharing user data with other companies for financial gain before April 2020, when Grindr revised its consent policies.
Users’ sensitive information, including their HIV status, recent testing details, and PrEP usage, was reportedly shared with third-party companies like Localytics and Apptimize, according to the lawsuit. This data may have been utilized to tailor ads based on users’ information or sold to additional parties. Austen Hays emphasized that Grindr, a platform serving the 2SLGBTQ+ community, plays a crucial role in facilitating connections for gay, bisexual, trans, and queer individuals, and must be held accountable for safeguarding user data and restoring trust.
Eligible claimants who used the free app version between 2016 and 2020 could receive £2,167 or $4,050 Cdn each from the settlement. Grindr plans to disburse the settlement amount in two installments, with the first half to be paid by the end of this year and the remainder by March 31, 2027, as per a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.
While Grindr denies the allegations and does not admit liability, it acknowledges the concerns and loss of trust expressed by some U.K. users regarding the pre-2020 period. This legal action in the U.K. follows Norway’s imposition of a 100 million Norwegian kroner fine on Grindr in 2021 for unlawfully sharing user data, a decision that Grindr unsuccessfully challenged in 2024.
Grindr, previously owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd., faced U.S. government pressure to divest due to data privacy concerns. The app was eventually acquired by San Vicente Acquisition LLC for $620 million US in 2020. Despite these controversies, Grindr boasts over 15 million monthly active users globally and reported revenue of $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in the second quarter of 2026, according to its latest investor report.