Grindr, the popular hookup app, has agreed to a substantial payout following the resolution of a lawsuit in the United Kingdom. The lawsuit, filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024, claimed that Grindr had shared sensitive user information, including HIV status, with advertisers. As part of the settlement, 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 prior to April 2020, Grindr violated U.K. privacy laws by sharing user data, such as HIV status, recent testing dates, and PrEP usage, with third-party companies like Localytics and Apptimize for advertising purposes. This information, voluntarily provided by users, could be publicly displayed on their profiles. The lawsuit further asserts that this data may have been sold to additional parties.
Austen Hays emphasized the important role Grindr plays in the 2SLGBTQ+ community by facilitating connections for gay, bisexual, trans, and queer adults. The law firm stressed the need for Grindr to be accountable and restore confidence in its handling of user data.
Eligible claimants who used the free version of Grindr between 2016 and 2020 may receive compensation of £2,167 or $4,050 Cdn each if distributed equally. Grindr plans to disburse the settlement in two installments, with the first half to be paid by the end of this year and the remaining amount by March 31, 2027, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Despite agreeing to the settlement, Grindr stated that it does not admit to any liability. The company acknowledged the concerns raised by some U.K. users regarding the period before 2020, expressing regret over the loss of trust experienced by these individuals.
This legal action in the U.K. followed a previous incident in Norway, where Grindr was fined for unlawfully sharing user data. The company had challenged Norway’s decision but lost its appeal in 2024. Grindr, once owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd., has since been acquired by San Vicente Acquisition LLC for $620 million US, following the U.S. government’s directive for Kunlun to divest from the company due to data handling concerns.
Grindr, established in 2009, boasts over 15 million monthly active users globally. In its most recent financial report, the app disclosed generating $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in revenue during the second quarter of 2026.