Norwegian nonprofit research group SINTEF uncovered the data sharing, and concern spread in the US after Buzzfeed reported the findings. Sensitive data are encrypted when sent, and vendors are under strict contractual terms to keep it secure and confidential, according to Chen. The Los Angeles-based company said that it uses Apptimize and Localytics to test and validate its platform, and that data it shares with them could include users' HIV status or location fields. Online rights champion Electric Frontier Foundation called Grindr's response 'disappointing.' Researchers worried that including the health information with other data such as location and email address could result in people being identified. Grindr users have the option of sharing their HIV status and when they were most recently tested.
