Grindr to disable location-based features at 2024 Paris Olympics to protect LGBTQ+ athletes
Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Grindr disabled location-based features within the Olympic Village to protect LGBTQ+ athletes from harassment.
"If an athlete is not out or comes from a country where being LGBTQ+ is dangerous or illegal, using Grindr can put them at risk of being outed by curious individuals who may try to identify and expose them on the app," the LGBTQ+ dating app said in a blog post.
Grindr said features like "Explore," which lets users check who's nearby, and "Roam," which allows them to set their location anywhere in the world, will be unavailable within the Olympic Village.
The "show distance" feature will also be turned off by default, the company said, though it noted that users may share their approximate distance if they decide to turn it on.
There will be additional safety and privacy features for users in the Olympic Village, including unlimited disappearing messages and unsend message, whether they're premium users or not.
Screenshots for profile images and media in-chat, as well as private videos, will likewise be disabled in the village.
"Our goal is to help athletes connect without worrying about unintentionally revealing their whereabouts or being recognized," Grindr said, adding that being an LGBTQ+ athlete comes with its own unique set of challenges, "especially for those who come from places that lack basic rights and protections for our community."
Grindr said it's also sending targeted safety resources and information, including weekly messages reminding users they may face danger while using the app in the Olympic Village.
To users in the village during the Olympics, Grindr said the app will only show the company's ads promoting health and safety resources, not third-party ones.
According to OutSports, a sports news website touching on LGBTQ+ issues, 175 athletes in the spectrum—out of over 10,000 athletes—are attending the games.
The Olympics will take place from July 26 to Aug. 11.
The Philippines has 27 delegates to the biennial meet.
