Grindr agrees £26m settlement in UK class action lawsuit

Dating app Grindr has agreed to pay £26 million to settle a High Court lawsuit representing approximately 12,000 UK users who alleged the platform unlawfully shared sensitive personal details, including HIV status, with commercial advertising companies.

The claim, brought by law firm Austen Hays in April 2024, alleged breaches of domestic data protection laws during a period leading up to early 2020, when the business was owned by Chinese gaming firm Beijing Kunlun Tech. The agreement resolves the two-year dispute without any admission of liability, providing claimants with an average payout of £2,167 each if funds are distributed equally.

Under the agreed terms, Grindr will make two equal payments of £13 million, the first by the end of this year and the remainder by March 2027. While disputing the substantive allegations, the California-based company acknowledged the distress and loss of trust voiced by users, stating that it has comprehensively reformed its data protection practices since 2020 to ensure transparent, secure controls.

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