Dating apps pose a threat to LGBTQ safety

Dating apps have grown in popularity and numbers over the past decade. Two of the first dating apps were created by the gay community, and dating apps have since grown to provide everyone in the LGBTQ community with a new way to find a partner. LGBTQ people, especially those living in conservative or intolerant societies, may believe that dating apps are the only safe way to find potential partners, which contributes to the popularity of these apps. However, these apps may pose a threat to the safety of LGBTQ users, as individuals motivated by anti-LGBTQ sentiments and officials in countries around the world reportedly exploit the location services of dating apps to target people for harassment, assault or imprison based on the user’s sexual orientation. The threat is particularly great in intolerant regions such as Russia, former Soviet republics, Africa and parts of Asia. These regions generally have oppressive laws towards the LGBTQ community.

Risks of using location-based dating apps

The targeted use of dating app location services has resulted in violence and persecution against members of the LGBTQ community. Dating app location services are designed to ensure that app users within a certain distance can meet; However, this feature poses a threat to the safety of LGBTQ people. Almost all dating apps tell other users the approximate location of app users and identify connections within a certain distance. While convenient, this feature poses a security risk for all users, as people motivated by anti-LGBTQ sentiments can exploit apps’ location services to triangulate users’ approximate locations.

In recent years, Egyptian police officers have used LGBTQ dating apps to entrap individuals, particularly gay men. Although same-sex sexual acts are legal in Egypt, authorities use vague laws to target LGBTQ people, accusing them of “debauchery.” Police used printouts of the dating app’s chat history and the contents of an individual’s phone as evidence for the prosecution.

According to Grindr, police created fake accounts on the platform and took over the existing accounts of users they arrested or whose phones they confiscated. Individuals motivated by anti-LGBTQ sentiment have also used dating apps to screenshot or record information shared on dating apps and LGBTQ chat rooms and post it for authorities, employers and the community.

In South Africa, criminal gangs have used dating apps to target LGBTQ people. Gang members pose as users of dating apps to lure LGBTQ people to places where they are kidnapped, assaulted, robbed or held hostage until the person’s friends and family pay a fee. ransom.

While dangers exist for all dating app users, members of the LGBTQ community face a unique threat: officials and individuals motivated by anti-LGBTQ sentiments are using dating app location services to find LGBTQ users to be attacked, harassed or imprisoned. Targeting methods on dating apps can include luring LGBTQ victims to a private location by offering them a “date”, blackmailing users into sending nude photos, or triangulating users’ approximate locations.

Security threats for LGBTQ people vary by country

LGBTQ people are more likely to be targeted through dating apps in countries with the highest threats and in those where societies are intolerant of the LGBTQ community, even if the threat exists in all countries. Cases of violence targeting LGBTQ people through dating apps have been reported in countries where the risk is high, such as Russia, Egypt and South Africa, and in countries where the risk is weaker, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands. Targeted violence against the LGBTQ community generally receives good publicity in countries where the threat is lower, as incidents are rare. Violent incidents against the LGBTQ community are more common in countries where the threat is higher. These countries have discriminatory laws and are generally intolerant of LGBTQ people; these incidents are not likely to be widely publicized unless the situation is particularly violent or the victim is a foreign traveler. Additionally, reporting of crimes targeting the LGBTQ community varies from country to country, as LGBTQ people may face discrimination or not be taken seriously by authorities.

Managing the privacy of dating app users

Many dating apps have protections in place for LGBTQ people, especially those traveling to places where risks are highest, including Russia, former Soviet Republic countries, and Africa; however, these protections are not always foolproof. Some apps automatically hide the location or profile of LGBTQ users when they enter a high-risk area, to reduce the risk of being the target of a hate crime. LGBTQ users can then choose to hide their location or make their profile public. If the user chooses to make their profile public, the application hides their sexual orientation or gender identity in order to prevent these people from being targets of violence. Other apps have set up an alert system to warn users that they are in a country whose laws criminalize or discriminate against LGBTQ people.

Although many dating apps have safety measures in place, they may not fully protect LGBTQ users from attack. Therefore, LGBTQ people who use dating apps should be aware of potential security risks and read and understand the mitigation measures they can implement to protect their privacy when registering on the platform.

The following tips can help LGBTQ people protect their safety and privacy:

• Avoid public Wi-Fi hotspots and don’t give out personally identifiable information, such as where you work, on a dating network.
• Do not accept drinks, cigarettes or gum from strangers, as reports have shown that some attackers contaminate these products with drugs.
• If you are caught in a potentially violent situation, immediately seek shelter in upscale hotels or large public buildings such as libraries, theaters, hospitals, or museums.
• The laws of this country bind visitors to this country; visitors cannot expect authorities in their home country to release them from the prison of a foreign country. Consulates of the country of origin will only be able to provide limited assistance to imprisoned citizens. In some countries, the burden of proof lies with the accused and not the prosecutor.
• Be wary of cultural biases when assessing LGBTQ acceptance. For example, in some cultures, it is common for men to hold hands, which is a gesture of friendship and not sexual attraction. Other gestures that may seem romantic and intimate may be platonic.
• Avoid using dating apps in countries where same-sex sexual acts are illegal or in cities with high rates of LGBTQ-related violence.
• Don’t use LGBTQ dating apps or social media in countries where authorities have fully or partially banned them, such as Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Egypt .
• Don’t think you’re safe from arrest in countries where same-sex sexual acts are legal.
• Avoid sending explicit photos to other app users to avoid being targeted by blackmailers.
• Do not publicly engage in behavior that may attract attention.
• If you are a traveler from a low-risk country or traveling to a low-risk country, report incidents to your local embassy or consulate if you are the target of an official, blackmailer or a person with anti-LGBTQ views.
• If you are from a region with higher threats, avoid reporting incidents to your local embassy, ​​as you may be arrested.
• If you are arranging a date in a low-risk area, always meet in a neutral public place. Do not arrange dates in places where the threat is higher; however, if you are arranging a date in a place where the threat is higher, be aware that public same-sex dating may result in harassment, discrimination, or arrest.
  Understand local expressions and words that may indicate a pejorative view of LGBTQ people.

Crisis24’s LGBTQ Security Intelligence Observatory (PRISM) monitors attitudes, events and issues around the world that could affect the security of LGBTQ people. To learn more about PRISM, contact us.