OUT.COM - Feb 23 - Gay men are still hooking up, but there's a greater emphasis on love and safety than in pre-pandemic days, according to Grindr's recent survey. According to Grindr, 64% of the men surveyed said they were trying to find new socially-distant ways to meet up with other gay men. 48 % said they had virtual hookups, and another 31 % revealed they've hooked up while wearing a mask. 58% said they are now more interested in a long-term relationship and 67% said personality is more important than in pre-pandemic times.
306 posts categorized "Grindr"
Grindr Polled 10K Users About Love During the Pandemic
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Grindr to Be Hit With $12M Fine From The Norwegian Data Protection Authority
GLOBAL LEGAL CHRONICLE - Feb 22 - The Norwegian Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) has announced its intention to fine NOK100M ($12M) for what the regulator has described as illegal disclosure of user data to advertising firms. Should the fine be finalized, it would be the largest GDPR fine issued in the Nordics.
by Federica Tiefenthaler
See full article at Global Legal Chronicle
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Mozilla Privacy Report Singles out Grindr for Serious Security Lapses
TECH REPUBLIC - Feb 10 - 21 of the 24 dating apps examined were tagged with the "*Privacy Not Included" warning label, noting that apps like Grindr are a "privacy and security nightmare." Mozilla researchers dug deep into the privacy policies and security practices of dating sites, pressing companies with questions like "Can this app or product snoop on me? What data is being collected and who is it shared with? What is the company's track record for protecting users' data? And, What could happen if something goes wrong?" Grindr continues to share other user data, like location, with third parties. Plenty of Fish is also mandating information like users' vehicle ownership and their parents' marital status," the study noted. Lex, built for the lesbian, queer, trans, and non-binary community, collects minimal data, and doesn't share it for marketing purposes. Further, their privacy policy is crystal clear. eHarmony is another app that respects users' privacy and security.
by Jonathan Greig
See full article at Tech Republic
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Grindr Is Fined $11.7M Under European Privacy Law
NEW YORK TIMES - Jan 26 - The Norwegian Data Protection Authority will fine Grindr $11.7M for illegally disclosing private details about its users to advertising companies. The agency said Grindr had transmitted users' precise locations, user-tracking codes and the app's name to at least five advertising companies, essentially tagging individuals as L.G.B.T.Q. without obtaining their explicit consent, in violation of European data protection law. Grindr shared users' private details with, among other companies, MoPub, Twitter's mobile advertising platform, which may in turn share data with ~100 partners. In a statement, a spokesperson for Grindr said the company had obtained "valid legal consent from all" of its users in Europe on multiple occasions and was confident that its "approach to user privacy is first in class" among social apps. The company has until Feb. 15 to comment on the ruling before it is final.
by Natasha Singer & Aaron Krolik
See full article at New York Times
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Android Apps Still Vulnerable to a Major Bug
ITPRO.CO.UK - Dec 4 - Security researchers have found major Android apps used by hundreds of millions of people, such as Grindr, Bumble, OKCupid are vulnerable to a known flaw that could give attackers access to the app users' phones and data. The security flaw is in Google's widely used Play core library, which lets developers push in-app updates and new feature modules to their Android apps. Google fixed the flaw in April 2020, but the app developers must also install the updated Play core library in their apps to eliminate the threat. Many developers have not yet done this.
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Grindr Faces Backlash From HIV Activists After 'Misleading' Anti-PrEP Ads
PINK NEWS - Nov 30 - Grindr has drawn criticism for pushing out a sponsored advertisement about the HIV-preventative drug Truvada dubbed "misleading" by HIV activists. The Grindr ad states that Truvada has been "linked to kidney failure, bone fractures, and even death, in extreme cases". Truvada, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004, was a pill long regarded as the goal of research when it came to stemming the global HIV epidemic. "We know that Truvada is very safe," said Matthew Hodson, executive director of HIV advocacy group aidsmap, "as well as being approved for PrEP it is a longtime mainstay of HIV treatment."
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Grindr Accused of Letting Racist Users Get Away With 'Zero Consequences'
PINKNEWS.CO.UK - Oct 28 - Racist Grindr users often face "zero consequences whatsoever" on the gay dating app, according to researcher Gene Lim, who is currently completing a PhD at Monash University in Melbourne investigating sexual racism. Grindr bans racism and discrimination in its community guidelines, but Lim said that such behaviour often goes unpunished.
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Ethnicity Filters on Dating Apps Raise Questions About Romantic Discrimination
MANCUNIAN MATTERS - Oct 21 - After Black Lives Matter protests shook cities across the world, Grindr opted to remove its 'ethnicity filter', sparking a major debate about romantic discrimination in the digital age. However, many have also expressed opposition to the update, stating that apps should respect the 'preferences' of individual users. Other dating sites were dragged into the mix. Hinge and OkCupid have said that they have opted to continue giving users the option to filter by ethnicity. Match Group argued in a statement by spokesperson Justine Sacco, "In many cases we've been asked to create filters for minorities that would otherwise not find each other."
by Jacklin Kwan
See full article at Mancunian Matters
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Grindr Features Failing to Protect Users From Sexual Predators
ABC - Oct 21 - LGBT Australians have criticized Grindr for allowing predators to easily create new profiles, despite reporting them for harassment or assault. Grindr users only need an email address to create a new profile and no other verification information, like a mobile phone number, is necessary. Unlike other dating apps such as Tinder, Grindr users don't opt-in by swiping on a profile and agreeing to message with someone. That means anyone can message anyone on the app. Grindr also limits the number of times a person can block someone on the app. Users can only block ten profiles per day; unlimited blocking is only available to people who pay for Grindr's premium version.
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In Pakistan, Shame Makes Online Dating a Challenge
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE - Oct 12 - Many women use anonymous online dating profiles out of fear of being harassed in a country where arranged marriages are the norm. Pakistanis who use dating apps regularly face harassment and judgmental relatives. In the self-proclaimed "Land of the Pure" - where sexual relations outside marriage, and homosexuality, are punishable with prison sentences - dating culture is unfamiliar. Authorities in September banned Tinder, Grindr and other popular apps for failing to "moderate" their content. "Banning these dating apps is a way to preserve our traditions," said a 50-year-old matchmaker based in Karachi who has been helping families find suitable partners for arranged marriages for over a decade.
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Grindr to Launch Bug Bounty Scheme
SILICON REPUBLIC - Oct 7 - After a serious vulnerability was discovered, Grindr wants to launch a bug bounty programme to improve the safety and security of its app. The announcement comes after French security researcher, Wassime Bouimadaghene, spotted a vulnerability that enabled password resets without access to a user’s inbox. Grindr released a statement noting that the security flaw has been fixed.
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Grindr's Security Flaw Let Anyone Easily Hijack User Accounts
TECH CRUNCH - Oct 5 - Grindr has fixed a security vulnerability that allowed anyone to hijack and take control of any user's account using only their email address. A French security researcher found the vulnerability and reported the issue to Grindr.
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Class Action Alleging Grindr Sold User Data
THE BAY AREA REPORTER - Sep 18 - A class action complaint against Grindr for privacy violations may not be able to proceed in traditional court but may go through arbitration. User Robert Bergeron sued Grindr after allegations it shared personal user data with third parties to the highest bidder without obtaining consent of users or telling them who those entities are, the initial federal court complaint states. Data included 'chat message text, chat images, e-mail address, display name, About Me, HIV status, linked Facebook & Twitter data, and more. They're claiming $5m+, which if the case went forward as a class action lawsuit would be spread among the members of the class. A 98% stake in Grindr sold a 98% stake in March to U.S.-based San Vicente Acquisition Partners.
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Grindr 'Disappointed' by Pakistan Block
WHTC - Sep 3 - Grindr is disappointed by Pakistan's decision this week to block it and four other dating apps including Tinder after they were deemed to be disseminating "immoral content". Pakistan, the second largest Muslim-majority country in the world after Indonesia, is an Islamic nation where extra-marital relationships and homosexuality are illegal. Grindr did not say whether it would seek to discuss the matter further with Pakistani authorities.
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Pakistan Bans 5 Dating Apps for 'Immoral' Content
TELEGRAPH INDIA - Sep 2 - Pakistan's telecom watchdog blocked Tinder, Tagged, Skout, Grindr and SayHi after they failed to take down the improper material. The apps were asked to remove "dating services" and moderate live streaming content "in accordance with the local laws of Pakistan" but they ignored the warning.
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