Grindr, a popular hookup app, has settled a lawsuit in the U.K. by agreeing to pay a substantial sum of £26 million (about $48.6 million Cdn) to approximately 12,000 users. The lawsuit, filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024, accused Grindr of unlawfully sharing sensitive user information, including HIV status, with advertisers before April 2020.
The claim alleged that Grindr breached U.K. privacy laws by disclosing data, such as users’ HIV status, recent test results, and PrEP usage, to third-party companies like Localytics and Apptimize for targeted advertising purposes. The lawsuit highlighted that users voluntarily provided this information, assuming it would only be visible to other app users.
Austen Hays emphasized Grindr’s significance in the 2SLGBTQ+ community for facilitating connections among gay, bisexual, trans, and queer individuals. The law firm stressed the importance of holding Grindr accountable to restore user trust in how their data is handled.
Eligible claimants who used Grindr’s free version between 2016 and 2020 are entitled to compensation of £2,167 or $4,050 Cdn each. The settlement, as per a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, will be disbursed in two installments by the end of 2026 and March 31, 2027.
While Grindr denies the allegations, it acknowledged users’ concerns and loss of trust regarding the pre-2020 data sharing practices. This settlement does not imply any admission of liability on Grindr’s part.
Notably, Norway’s government fined Grindr in 2021 for illegal data sharing, a decision that Grindr unsuccessfully appealed in 2024. Grindr, previously owned by Chinese company Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd., faced divestment orders from the U.S. government over data privacy concerns, leading to its acquisition by San Vicente Acquisition LLC for $620 million US in 2020.
Grindr, founded in 2009, boasts over 15 million monthly active users globally. The company reported a revenue of $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in the second quarter of 2026, according to its latest investor update.
