Jeffrey Burrill, a Catholic priest, has filed a lawsuit against Grindr, saying that it released his data and cost him his job and reputation.
Monsignor Burrill began using Grindr in 2017. It felt safe because there was no indication – at least to him – that people outside of the app could access his data (apparently neglecting to read the privacy policy). The app states very clearly in its privacy policy that it collects data and shares it with third-parties. And there’s no way around it either. By signing up for the app, a user is giving their consent to have their personal information shared.
To Burrill, secrecy was crucial. As the top administrator of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), he had taken a vow of celibacy, and Catholic teaching opposes sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage.
But in 2021, a Catholic media website found out Burrill had been using Grindr and reported it. Soon after he was asked to resign.
Now, in a lawsuit filed against the app Burrill says that Grindr did not protect his data and inform him that vendors could actually access it. Grindr has already been accused of not protecting its users' privacy. In April, another lawsuit claimed that the app shared users’ HIV statuses. More here from Queerty.com