Grindr, a popular hookup app, has agreed to a significant settlement in the U.K. after a lawsuit claimed that sensitive user data, including HIV status, was shared with advertisers. The California-based company will pay around $48.6 million Cdn to approximately 12,000 individuals who joined the claim filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024. The lawsuit alleges that Grindr breached U.K. privacy laws by sharing user data with other companies before April 2020 in exchange for payment or other benefits.
Among the data shared were users’ HIV status, recent testing details, and PrEP usage, which could be voluntarily displayed on profiles. This information was allegedly passed on to third-party companies like Localytics and Apptimize for targeted advertising purposes, and may have been further sold to additional parties, according to the lawsuit.
Austen Hays emphasized that Grindr serves as an important platform for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, facilitating connections for gay, bisexual, trans, and queer individuals. The law firm stressed the need for Grindr to be accountable and restore confidence in its handling of user data.
Users who used the free version of Grindr between 2016 and 2020 may be entitled to £2,167 or $4,050 Cdn each, as part of the settlement. The company plans to disburse the settlement in two installments, with the first half expected to be paid by the end of 2026 and the remainder by March 31, 2027, as per a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
Grindr clarified that the settlement does not imply any admission of liability, although it acknowledges the concerns and loss of trust expressed by some U.K. users regarding the pre-2020 period. This legal issue follows a previous incident where Norway fined Grindr for unlawfully sharing user data, a decision that Grindr unsuccessfully appealed in 2024.
Originally owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd., Grindr transitioned to new ownership in 2020 after the U.S. government mandated Kunlun’s divestiture due to data handling concerns. The app was acquired by San Vicente Acquisition LLC for $620 million US, a move approved by the government. Investors involved in the acquisition were reported to have connections to Kunlun.
Grindr, established in 2009, boasts over 15 million monthly active users worldwide. In its recent investor report, the app disclosed generating $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in revenue during the second quarter of 2026.