Privacy Group Alleges TikTok Tracked Grindr Users via Third-Party Data

A new privacy complaint in Europe is raising concerns about how user data may be shared across apps without consent. Advocacy group None of Your Business (NOYB) has filed formal complaints against TikTok, Grindr, and mobile analytics firm AppsFlyer, alleging violations of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

According to the Vienna-based organization, TikTok was able to monitor a specific user’s activity on Grindr through data provided by AppsFlyer, a company that specializes in mobile attribution and marketing analytics. NOYB claims this tracking occurred without valid legal grounds or user consent, potentially exposing highly sensitive personal information.

The complaint was submitted to Austria’s data protection authority and calls for regulators to investigate the companies involved, impose fines if violations are confirmed, and order an end to the alleged data-sharing practices. At the time of publication, TikTok, Grindr, and AppsFlyer had not publicly responded to the allegations.

NOYB said the issue came to light after a user submitted a data access request, a right guaranteed under GDPR. In response, TikTok reportedly disclosed that it had received information about the user’s activity on other apps, including their use of Grindr and LinkedIn, as well as details related to an item added to an online shopping cart. The group claims TikTok only provided this information after repeated follow-ups, which it argues falls short of GDPR’s transparency requirements.

The advocacy group further alleges that TikTok used the data for purposes such as personalized advertising, analytics, and security. Under GDPR, data related to sexual orientation is considered particularly sensitive and subject to stricter protections, due to the potential risk of discrimination or harm if misused.