Investigative Journalist Ronan Farrow Explains How Grindr Uses Personal Data to Train AI

Investigative journalist Ronan Farrow has turned his attention to Grindr, raising concerns about how the LGBTQ+ dating app uses personal information to train its AI technology.

via: Queerty

Cue the Grindr sound!

In his video, Farrow dissects how Grindr is feeding unknowing users’ data into its AI program, and the company’s checkered past on protecting users’ privacy.

Over the last year, CEO George Arison has aggressively integrated AI into Grindr’s user experience. Dubbed “gAI™” (pronounced “gay-eye”), it powers Edge, the company’s premium subscription service that costs hundreds of dollars per month.

A graphic shows how Grindr’s stock valuation has skyrocketed since Edge was unveiled early this year.

While Grindr needs permission to train “gAI™” on certain data–such as a person’s gender, orientation, or chat content–there’s other data that the company serves up. This so-called “limited data” set includes photos, age, taps and display names.

None of this info is disputed. Grinds admits as much on its website. Its privacy and AI section says the following about limited data: “Grindr may use this type of data to train its AI technology by default, but you can opt out at any time in your Privacy Settings.”

At the end of his expose, Farrow cites dozens of studies that show the majority of people tend to keep whatever option is pre-set.

Queerty reached out to Grindr for comment, and received the following response from a spokesperson: “Privacy and discretion are fundamental to Grindr, and we provide our users meaningful control over how their data is used. Our AI features are designed to help users make better connections, and they can opt-out at any time of having their information used for AI-powered features and AI training. More details are available to Grindr users in the in-app Safety and Privacy Center, Privacy Policy, and AI explainer.”

Grindr’s privacy past

Farrow details multiple instances in which Grindr has been fined over its lax privacy practices. The most notable case was just settled last week: Grindr paid $35 million to settle a lawsuit with thousands of users in the U.K. who allege that Grindr shared their HIV data with advertisers without their consent.

In 2021, Norway’s data protection agency successfully sued Grindr for illegally sharing users’ data with advertisers as well (Grindr appealed the verdict three times and lost).

That same year, the consequences of Grindr’s laissez-faire approach were felt by a high-ranking priest in the U.S. The Catholic news site The Pillar obtained commercially available records of when and where devices had opened Grindr. The trace of those records led to Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill.

He resigned the very next day.

Burrill has sued Grindr for releasing his data and costing him his livelihood.

Future concerns

AI has powered digital police states capable of watching people’s every move. With same-sex relations still criminalized in 65 countries, there’s founded concern that available Grindr data could lead to further persecution of LGBTQ+ people worldwide.

Already, there are examples of authoritarian security forces using Grindr to hunt down gay people.

“Whatever Grindr calls your data, its track record with it isn’t promising,” says Farrow.

With Grindr recently paying $250 million to acquire an online PrEP clinic, it can expect to collect even more info on its 15 million active monthly users.

Opting out

Always clear-eyed and composed, Farrow educates people on how to opt out of all AI data sharing on Grindr. It involves several steps: tap your profile picture, go to settings, scroll to privacy settings, then click AI technology controls and uncheck the pre-selected options.

Despite the lengthy to-do list, most commenters indicated they will follow Farrow’s advice.

“So scary, disappointing and such an overreach,” somebody wrote, “but I will say gAI (gay-eye) did make me lol.”

In these dystopian times, it’s important to keep your sense of humor.