Grindr adjusts privacy settings for LGBTQ+ athletes at the Beijing Winter Olympics
Grindr has changed its privacy policy for LGBTQ+ athletes competing at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. According to a report from Bloomberg News, the app has disabled the “Explore” feature for users that reside in the Olympic village.
Even though the company already offers this privacy option in countries with anti-LGBTQ+ laws, this is the first time it has been used for the Olympic games.
Under the new feature, people in the Olympian village can interact with other users by using the “nearby” feature or searching recently added profiles.
The special update was introduced after previous years of international users outing closeted Olympians on social media. Director of Grindr for equality Jack Harrison-Quintana opened up about the privacy adjustment in a statement. “We want Grindr to be a space where all queer athletes, regardless of where they’re from, feel confident connecting with one another while they’re in the Olympic Village,” he said.
