Tinder, the app that connects millions of people worldwide, has decided to end its operations in Russia. The reason is a new law that would force it to share the personal data of its users with Russian authorities. Tinder fears that this would violate the privacy and security of its members, as well as human rights.
Tinder is not the first dating app to leave Russia after Moscow attacked Ukraine in 2022. Already in March last year, a rival app Bumble, which focuses on women, left. Many other Western companies, such as McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, and Heineken, also suspended or terminated their activities in Russia.
Tinder will withdraw from Russia by June 30, 2023. By then, a new Russian law will come into force that would require all internet services that collect the personal data of their users to share them with Russian authorities on request. This law would also apply to Tinder, which would have to hand over information about the names, gender, age, sexual orientation, and preferences of its users.
Tinder has expressed that this law would violate the privacy and security of its members and therefore prefers to end its operations in Russia.
Photo: https://elements.envato.com/
