Grindr, a popular hookup app, has agreed to a significant settlement in a U.K. lawsuit that claimed the company unlawfully shared sensitive user data with advertisers, including information on users’ HIV status. The California-based company will pay approximately $48.6 million Canadian to around 12,000 individuals who joined the claim filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024.
The lawsuit alleged that Grindr breached U.K. privacy laws by sharing user data, such as HIV status, recent testing details, and PrEP usage, with external companies like Localytics and Apptimize for targeted advertising purposes. This information, voluntarily provided by users, could be displayed on their profiles.
Austen Hays emphasized that Grindr, known for its role in the 2SLGBTQ+ community, must be held accountable for mishandling user data to restore trust among its users. Eligible claimants who used the free version of the app from 2016 to 2020 could receive £2,167 or $4,050 Canadian each from the settlement.
Grindr clarified in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that the settlement does not imply any admission of liability. Despite disputing the allegations, Grindr acknowledged the concerns expressed by U.K. users regarding the period before 2020.
This legal action follows a previous incident where Norway fined Grindr for illegally sharing user data, a decision that Grindr unsuccessfully challenged in 2024. Grindr was previously owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd., a Chinese gaming company, before being acquired by San Vicente Acquisition LLC in 2020 for $620 million US.
With more than 15 million monthly active users globally, Grindr reported revenue of $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in the second quarter of 2026, according to its latest investor report.