Grindr pays £26M to settle UK privacy class action

Grindr has reached a £26 million (£35.1 million) settlement with a UK class action lawsuit regarding the sharing of users' personal data, including HIV status, with third parties. The dating and social networking app, primarily targeted at gay and bisexual men, transgender individuals, and the broader queer community, will make two £13 million payments due by December 31, 2026, and March 31, 2027.

The settlement consists of no admission of wrongdoing. The case originated in England's High Court in April 2024 and was filed by law firm Austen Hays, with a copy being served on Grindr in April 2025. The lawsuit drew attention to research conducted by SINTEF in 2018, which revealed that Grindr had shared user data, including HIV status, last test date, sexual orientation, and GPS location, with third-party analytics companies Localytics and Apptimize.

Austen Hays explained that this data sharing could enable an unlimited number of third parties to target or customize advertising for Grindr users. While Grindr disputes the allegations, the company acknowledges the distress and loss of trust experienced by some UK users concerning the pre-2020 period. The company has since overhauled its privacy program, focusing on the unique needs of its community.

The settlement is about five times the fine imposed on Grindr by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority in December 2021 for breaching GDPR regulations.