Grindr finally apologises after HIV data row

Grindr has finally apologised for sending data about users’ HIV statuses to outside companies.

The gay hook-up app came under the microscope this week after it was revealed that a massive amount of its user data, including users’ HIV status, was shared with two private companies that help “optimise” apps, Localytics and Apptimize.

Cybersecurity experts also alleged that the dating app was sending advertisers its users’ precise GPS position, sexuality, relationship status, ethnicity, phone ID, and even their ‘tribe’ – such as ‘twink’ or ‘daddy’ – in a plaintext format that could be easily hacked and stolen.

Grindr initially refused to apologise for its handling of the issue, insisting that the company would not “admit fault” and that critics were “misunderstanding technology”.

But after a prolonged backlash and calls for a probe over breaches of European data laws, the company finally apologised to users today.

Grindr’s Vice President of Social Impact Jack Harrison-Quintana apologised for the “distress” caused to users in a video.

Jack Harrison-Quintana, our VP of Social Impact and founder of Grindr for Equality, addresses concerns about HIV status information on Grindr and explains how we handle user data. Read our full statement about our HIV status data here: https://t.co/5Rw1id0HJw pic.twitter.com/mydtY4mqNN

— Grindr (@Grindr) April 5, 2018

He said: “I want to start by apologising from everyone here at the Grindr team for all of the distress that we’ve caused over the last 48 hours.

“I know that many of you have questions about what happens to the information you put on your Grindr profile, and I’m going to try and answer some of those questions today.