OSLO (Reuters) – The Norwegian Data Protection Authority said on Tuesday that it intends to fine the Grindr app 100 million Norwegian crowns ($ 11.7 million) for what the regulator that illegally published user data to advertising companies.
U.S.-based Grindr, which claims to be the world’s largest social networking app for gay, bisexual, transgender and bisexual people, has not responded to an email request for comment.
“Our first conclusion is that the breaches are very serious,” the Norwegian agency said in a statement citing what it said was a fine in excess of about 10% of Grindr’s global annual revenue.
Grindr has until Feb. 15 to respond to the claims, after which the Data Protection Authority will make its final decision in the case, the group said.
The Common European Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out guidelines for the collection, processing and sharing of personal information in the European Union as well as in non-EU Norway.
The Consumer Council for Norway (NCC), a watchdog, said in a January 2020 report that Grindr shared detailed user data with third parties involved in advertising and imaging, such as a user’s IP address, advertising ID , GPS location, age and gender.
In some cases, widespread sharing of personal data can become a physical safety issue if users are located and targeted in countries where homosexuality is illegal, the NCC said at the time.
In a statement Tuesday, the NCC reiterated its decision to fine Grindr as a historic advantage for privacy.
Reciting with Gwladys Fouche and Terje Solsvik; Edited by Stephen Coates