Should Grindr be banned in South Africa?

A South African security company, Vision Tactical, has called for a ban on Grindr to safeguard members of the LGBTQ+ community against violence and exploitation.

This is in the midst of ongoing incidents of so-called Grindr Gang criminals using the app to deceive and entrap queer people while the company behind it does little to safeguard its users.

In a statement, Vision Tactical expressed that its primary concern is the lack of safety measures within the app.

While Grindr specifies that users should be at least 18 years old, there is no requirement for any form of identification during the registration process.

Deceptive Personas and Trust Issues

Vision Tactical highlighted that individuals can easily create fictitious personas, using fake pictures and inaccurate information to deceive unsuspecting users.

“This not only facilitates deception but also makes it difficult for users to trust the authenticity of others they may encounter on the app,” said the company.

Impact on LGBTQ+ Individuals and Law Enforcement

While Grindr is the world’s largest LGBTQ+ dating app and provides a much-needed platform for queer people to meet, it has also become a weapon against its users in the hands of criminals.

The security company argues that the app’s lack of security disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ individuals, who already face high levels of violence and discrimination in society.

Additionally, the absence of identification hampers police efforts to investigate and track criminals who use the service to target users.

Incidents of Violence and Kidnapping

For several years, an ever-growing number of queer men, primarily in Johannesburg and Cape Town, have fallen victim to criminals via dating apps like Grindr. They are lured into meetings, only to face violence, threats, and theft.

They are typically held captive, threatened and beaten while criminals empty their bank accounts using the victim’s banking apps or demand ransom from their friends or family members.

“These incidents have shed light on a dark reality: Grindr cannot provide a safe space for its users. As a result, Vision Tactical’s call for a ban on Grindr in South Africa is a necessary step towards protecting vulnerable individuals and combating these criminal activities,” said the company.

Ensuring User Safety and Combatting Criminal Activities

“Although the process of getting Grindr banned from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store may be an arduous one, we trust that by following this process, we can expose these risks and ensure the safety of users,” Vision Tactical added.

The security company urged the South African Police Service to devise strategies that prioritise the allocation of resources to efficiently combat kidnappings for ransom.

The call for increased safety and security measures in dating apps gained momentum following last week’s kidnapping and severe assault of an 18-year-old student by seven men who lured him to a fictitious date.

The police arrested the criminals after one of them attempted to withdraw ransom money from an ATM. Although the victim was rescued, he was reported to be in serious condition in the hospital.

While banning Grindr is an extreme and unrealistic move, there is a strong case to be made that the app must do more to protect its users and ensure that it is a safe online space for queer people.