Ronan Farrow. Photo credit: Fuzheado, via Wikimedia Commons
Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Ronan Farrow has launched a new investigative series targeting how major tech platforms harvest user data to train artificial intelligence models, kicking off the project with a report focusing on the LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr.
In a recent briefing, Farrow revealed that Grindr has been utilizing sensitive personal information—including user photos, ages, and app interactions—to train its proprietary gAI system by default without explicit user consent.
Privacy advocates note that automated data collection carries heightened risks within queer spaces due to the criminalization of same-sex relationships in numerous countries worldwide.
Farrow also highlighted the difficulty users face in opting out of the training program, providing a step-by-step guide to locate the settings menu under Safety and Privacy Centre to disable the feature.
His report on Grindr’s gAI feature and his ongoing series examining tech data harvesting can be found on Facebook at
