Gay dating app Grindr has been fined $7 million over privacy violations
The location-based dating app copped the penalty from the Norwegian Data Protection Authority for selling user data to advertisers.
“Our conclusion is that Grindr has disclosed user data to third parties for behavioural advertisement without a legal basis,” said Tobias Judin, head of the Norwegian Data Protection Authority’s (DPA) international department.
Its investigation was based on a complaint from the Norwegian Consumer Council.
The fine, the largest the Norwegian DPA has issued, is large because the regulator considered the infringements to be “grave”.
Data which it found the app had shared with third parties included GPS location, IP address, advertising ID, age, gender and the fact that the user was on Grindr.
This was particularly intrusive because data about a person’s sexual orientation constitutes special category data that merits particular protection under GDPR rules, it added.
It’s the largest fine handed down by the agency.
Grindr has three weeks to lodge an appeal.
