Grindr, Good Intentions, Cyber Attacks And Blackmail

Dear Scott Chen CTO and Grindr Family;

I am a friend.

I have read the "Grindr Statement on HIV Data." 

The month of April has its credence issues especially if something follows or falls on April 1st Fools Day. See: https://grindr.tumblr.com/post/172528912083/heres-what-you-should-know-regarding-your-hiv.

Please make the statement appear in the formal Grindr grandeur it deserves. Like all statements or circulars of import do.

Having said that, I noted the assurances your team shared and particularly:

 

3.      The HIV status and last test date information was used by Apptimize and Localytics only to provide services to Grindr.

You raised a great point of contention in the legal and medical world. But, let me restrict myself to the medical world of which am very familiar. My understanding is that your team seeks to provide the best of services, what is called client comfort in the medical world. When information is shared outside the confidentiality bubble and ends up as a media scoop, with many outlets saying different things it can be disturbing! After Facebook, yours comes next. This has already created excitement and it disrupts the sense of comfort or privacy. 

Medical people are sworn NOT to share information they come across in the event of doing their work unless the sole reason is continuation of health care. This means continuing with diagnosis, treatment, care and longevity of patient life with such partners they share mutual agreements or written contracts. There is an understanding that all concerned would continue with the privacy and confidentiality code of conduct. And this is loosely putting it. I understand the good intentions at Grindr. You can pick a leaf from the way they deal with sharing info with other parties.

You say, you took measures to "blind" or encrypt the client data but then again, the same clients will receive updates or reminders. This statement may confuse your clients. Already, 34 have asked me what exactly is meant by it. I manage an online counselling service platform and this is how I got first hand experiences other than getting it from the news.

I repeat that personally, I believe you have only good interests of  your clients at heart. I was happy to read you have Grindr For Equality Team. Does it also work as a Health Review Team at Grindr  to enforce the confidentiality code even while you go on with dealing with the market forces? 

Please make the statement on a formal Grindr Letterhead, get ads in pull out sections too of some hard copy dailies. Establish a culture of being seen to fight for People Living With HIV or other minorities.  

While you are at it, establish committees on all continents to look into instances of Cyber crooks bent on blackmailing LGBTIQQ especially in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

Grindr filled a gap and we would like to see Grindr stay on top of things.