The Grindr dating app (illustration).

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Hassan Ammar / AP / SIPA

Norway announced on Tuesday that the dating app Grindr could be fined 100 million kroner (9.6 million euros) for illegal data sharing.

It allegedly distributed information about its users for marketing purposes: GPS coordinates, profile items and the fact that they use Grindr, a "global dating network for gay, bi, trans and queer people."

This last information therefore gives indications on sexual preferences.

The Norwegian data protection authority pointed out that this practice was against the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) put in place in the European Union in May 2018. Last year, in January 2020, the Norwegian Council of consumers had filed a complaint against Grindr and five other applications for the same reason.

A "historic victory for privacy"

He considered the Norwegian decision to be a “historic victory for privacy”.

Monique Goyens, director general of the European Bureau of Consumer Unions (BEUC) based in Brussels and which brings together consumer associations in 32 countries also reacted.

She said, “This is great news that makes it clear that it is illegal to monitor consumers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without their consent, to collect and share their data.

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Until February 15 to react

The fine that Grindr risks represents 10% of its worldwide turnover, or about 10 million dollars.

The application has until February 15 to make itself heard.

The group said it was "eager" to engage in "productive dialogue" with the authority.

He explained: "The Norwegian data protection authority's allegations date back to 2018 and do not reflect Grindr's current privacy policy or practices."

Its terms of use changed in April 2020. It added to improve its "confidentiality practices taking into account the evolution of laws and regulations.

As for the other complaints lodged by the Norwegian Consumer Council, they are currently being examined.

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