VOCATIV – Sep 9 – A setting allowing users to show the distance between one another had been disabled in several countries with anti-gay legislation. Egyptian authorities were using it to locate and arrest homosexuals. The proximity feature of the app allows users to detect other users’ location to within approximately 100 feet.
Category: All Gay
Grindr Faces Security Breach Allegations
AMERICA BLOG – Aug 26 - Grindr is facing accusations that a glitch in its system is giving away the actual location of its users to anyone with a Web connection. Grindr has responded, claiming that the ability to identity the location of its users isn’t a security flaw, but rather, something they intended all along. Many Grindr users give permission for their general location to be known to other Grindr users. But while the app shows that users are, say, “1000 feet” from a nearby user, it does not show the direction of the other user. The “flaw,” however, uses triangulation to permit anyone to determine the actual location of that user within ~100 feet.
Hornet Gay Social App Launches HIV-test Finding Feature
Grindr Fights Claims In New Jersey Federal Court
NEW JERSEY LAW JOURNAL- Aug 12 - Grindr is battling a suit brought by a man who alleges the site’s lax age restrictions led him to have a liaison with an underage boy, for which he now faces criminal charges. According to the suit, the 13-year-old was allowed to become a paying member of Grindr even though the site restricts access for persons under age 18. The suit alleges Grindr was negligent for failing to ensure that its members are over the age of majority and for negligently training its employees, agents and representatives. Grindr has filed a motion to dismiss based on the Communications Decency Act that immunizes providers of interactive computer services against liability for information provided by other parties.
by Charles Toutant
See full article at New Jersey Law Journal
Scruff App Selects MWW To Elevate Brand Awareness Among LGBT
PR NEWSWIRE – Aug 12 – As the public relations agency of record, MWW through its LGBT marketing practice will bring attention to Scruff using a multi-pronged communications program that will feature strategic media relations and the leveraging of Scruff's global community to support various philanthropic outreach.
Grindr Is Ready For Redesign
INDEPENDENT.CO.UK – July 10 - Grindr is the world's most popular dating app for gay men. The app is now 5 years old. Using GPS, Grindr shows users men in their vicinity looking to meet other men. The app is currently launching a redesign. The redesign makes the profiles even simpler, with, on the first page, only a picture.
Lesbian Dating App Dattch Is Launching In NYC
NY POST – June 19 – Although it launched last September in London, Dattch has only opened for business in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Florida. Now it will officially open to Big Apple residents. The app, whose name is a combination of “date” and “catch”, screens its members to ensure men don’t sneak past.
Moovz Secures $1.4M In New Funding
TECHINASIA – May 23 – Moovz has secured a new $1.4M round, bringing total funding to $2.4M since launch last October. The Israel-based startup is a location-based flirting app for gay males. The app has over 70K users, up from 30K in February. Moovz has seen 15M chats, 9M comments, and 500K image uploads. The app is most popular in the Philippines, followed by Mexico, the US, and Brazil.
by Steven Millward
See full article at TechInAsia
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Dattch Founder Discusses Start-up Experience
Gay Social Network “Hornet” Attracts 3M Users
SAN FRANCISCO BUSINESS TIMES – Apr 26 – Hornet, the gay dating app that launched in 2011, has attracted 3M users and that number is growing 20% month a month. In addition to the US, it is very popular in Brazil, France, Russia and Turkey. The app raised $2M. It makes money with advertising and by selling premium accounts.
by Patrick Hoge
See full article at San Francisco Business Times