Grindr, a popular dating app, has agreed to a substantial settlement in the U.K. following allegations that it shared sensitive user data, including HIV status, with advertisers. The California-based company will pay approximately $48.6 million to around 12,000 individuals who joined the lawsuit filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024. The claim asserts that Grindr breached U.K. privacy laws by sharing user data with third-party companies for financial gain before April 2020.
The shared data reportedly included details such as users’ HIV status, recent testing information, and PrEP usage. This information, voluntarily provided by users, could be displayed on their profiles. The lawsuit alleges that this data was shared with advertising companies, Localytics and Apptimize, enabling targeted ad placements based on users’ personal information.
Austen Hays emphasized that Grindr, an essential platform for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, needs to be accountable for how it handles user data to restore trust. Eligible claimants who used the free app version between 2016 and 2020 may receive £2,167 or $4,050 each. Grindr plans to distribute the settlement in two installments, with the first half by the end of this year and the remainder by March 31, 2027, as disclosed in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
While Grindr denies the allegations, it acknowledges the concerns raised by some U.K. users regarding the pre-2020 period. This settlement does not imply any admission of liability. The U.K. lawsuit followed a previous incident in Norway, where Grindr faced a fine for unlawfully sharing user data, leading to a loss in its appeal in 2024.
Grindr, promoted as the world’s largest social networking app for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals, was previously owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd. The U.S. government mandated Kunlun to divest its ownership due to data handling issues. The app was subsequently acquired by San Vicente Acquisition LLC for $620 million US in 2020, with later reports indicating ties between the new investors and Kunlun.
Established in 2009, Grindr boasts over 15 million monthly active users globally. The company reported revenues of $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in the second quarter of 2026, according to its latest investor report.