A U.K. lawsuit accusing Grindr, the hookup app, of selling sensitive user information, such as HIV status, to advertisers, has resulted in a significant settlement. The California-based company has agreed to pay £26 million (about $48.6 million Cdn) to approximately 12,000 individuals who joined the claim filed by London law firm Austen Hays in 2024. The lawsuit alleged that Grindr violated U.K. privacy laws by sharing data, including users’ HIV status, testing details, and PrEP usage, with third-party companies like Localytics and Apptimize for targeted advertising. This information, which users can choose to display on their profiles, may have also been sold to additional parties.

Austen Hays highlighted the importance of Grindr in the 2SLGBTQ+ community for connecting individuals and emphasized the need for accountability in managing user data. Eligible claimants who used the free version of the app from 2016 to 2020 stand to receive £2,167 or $4,050 Cdn each from the settlement. Grindr, as per a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing, plans to disburse the settlement in two parts, with the first half by the end of this year and the remainder by March 31, 2027.

Despite denying the allegations, Grindr acknowledged the concerns raised by U.K. users regarding the period before 2020. The company stated that the settlement does not imply liability. In a separate incident, Norway fined Grindr for sharing user data illegally, a decision that Grindr unsuccessfully contested in 2024. Grindr, known as the largest social networking app for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, was previously owned by Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd. before being acquired by San Vicente Acquisition LLC in 2020 due to concerns over data management and privacy.

Launched in 2009, Grindr boasts over 15 million monthly active users globally and reported $138 million US ($190 million CAD) in revenue for the second quarter of 2026, according to its latest investor report.