Grindr has revealed its decision to disable the location feature during the Winter Olympics to safeguard LGBTQ+ athletes from potential safety threats.
The dating app expressed concerns that disclosing locations could pose risks for gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer athletes as they gather in the Milano-Cortina Olympic Village. Grindr emphasized the importance of protecting athletes, particularly those who may face dangers due to their sexual orientation in certain countries.
Typically, Grindr allows users to locate and connect with others nearby, showing their distance. However, the platform deemed it necessary to deactivate this function for the Olympic event. The company highlighted the intense global attention athletes receive during the Olympics, both on and off the podium.
In the Olympic Village, where a large number of athletes are in close proximity, the app explained that features like displaying nearby users and distances could become a security risk. External individuals could access profiles within the Village, potentially pinpointing exact locations using distance data. Additionally, being visible on Grindr could reveal sensitive information about a person’s identity, which is illegal in over 60 countries.
OutSports reported a record number of 44 openly LGBTQ+ athletes traveling to Italy for the upcoming Winter Olympics, starting on February 6. Grindr previously limited location visibility during the 2022 Winter Olympics and will maintain this approach for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
To support athletes during the Olympics, Grindr will send weekly safety alerts related to the event and grant access to premium features at no cost, such as vanishing messages, message recall, and screenshot prevention. The platform has also disabled the private video feature within the official Olympic Village, allowing users to view videos only once.
