News

Grindr Likely Protected Against Failure To Warn Claims

Grindr

Grindr might be protected against failure-to-warn claims, after a New York-based actor tried to sue the app for not warning users of the alleged risks involved with using the platform.

In January it was revealed that actor Matthew Herrick was suing Grindr, following a string of incidents related to alleged fake profiles on the app.

Herrick alleged that a man he met on Grindr in 2015, and later dated, set up fake profiles of him on the dating app and disclosed information like his home address and place of work.

The actor claimed he lodged 50 complaints with Grindr about the alleged fake accounts and even filed 14 police reports, after a number of frightening incidents allegedly occurred as a result of the profiles.

Reports said that Herrick’s roommate confronted someone who had turned up to their apartment building looking for Herrick.

However, when the roommate threatened to call police, the man, “lunged at the roommate, grabbed his phone and started wrestling with him”.

Herrick said that Grindr should have warned users about the risks of harassment when using the app.

And now, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has said that Grindr is likely protected from the allegations that it failed to warn its users, and refused to extend a temporary order requiring Grindr to disable the fake profiles.

This is because of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which provides immunity from liability to online services if content is produced by other people.

The investigation is still ongoing, however, and the court is yet to decide on the failure-to-warn ruling.

Emma Woodley

Emma is a reporter at Global Dating Insights. Originally from Surrey, she has studied Communication and Media at Bournemouth University and The University of Central Florida. She enjoys socialising with friends, exploring new places and can often be found with her nose in a book.

Global Dating Insights is part of the Industry Insights Group. Registered in the UK. Company No: 14395769