Grindr, the popular hookup app, has agreed to pay a substantial sum to settle a lawsuit in the U.K. The lawsuit, filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024, accused Grindr of selling sensitive user information, including HIV status, to advertisers. The California-based company will pay £26 million (about $48.6 million Cdn) to approximately 12,000 individuals who joined the claim.
The lawsuit alleged that Grindr breached U.K. privacy laws by sharing user data with third parties before April 2020. This data, which included details such as HIV status, recent testing information, and PrEP usage, was reportedly shared with companies like Localytics and Apptimize for targeted advertising purposes. The lawsuit also suggested that this data might have been further sold to additional parties.
According to Austen Hays, users voluntarily provide such sensitive information and can choose whether to display it on their profiles. The law firm emphasized that Grindr, a significant platform for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, must be held accountable for mishandling user data to restore user confidence.
Eligible claimants who used the free version of the app between 2016 and 2020 are entitled to receive £2,167 or $4,050 Cdn each from the settlement. Grindr plans to disburse the first part of the settlement by the end of this year and the remainder by March 31, 2027, as outlined in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Grindr clarified that the settlement does not imply any admission of liability. The company acknowledged the concerns raised by some U.K. users regarding the pre-2020 period, despite disputing the allegations. This legal battle in the U.K. followed a similar incident in Norway, where Grindr was fined for unlawfully sharing user data.
Grindr, which positions itself as the largest social networking app for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals globally, was previously owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd. The U.S. government intervened, ordering Kunlun to divest from Grindr due to data handling concerns. Eventually, San Vicente Acquisition LLC acquired Grindr for $620 million US in 2020, with reports later revealing ties between the investors and Kunlun.
Founded in 2009, Grindr boasts over 15 million monthly active users worldwide. The company’s latest investor report indicates a revenue of $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in the second quarter of 2026.
