Grindr gets busted for sharing user data, its CEO in favor of state surveillance

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

After Grindr gets busted for sharing user data, its CEO comes out in favor of state surveillance

https://www.queerty.com/after-grindr-gets-busted-for-sharing-user-data-its-ceo-comes-out-in-favor-of-state-surveillance-20261015/?utm_source=lgbtqnation&utm_medium=directlink&utm_campaign=directlink&utm_content=After+Grindr+gets+busted+for+sharing+user+data%2C+its+CEO+comes+out+in+favor+of+state+surveillance 🔗 [Link: queerty.com/after-​grindr-​gets-​busted-​for-​sharing-​user-​data-​its-​ceo-​comes-​out-​in-​favor-​of-​state-​surveillance-​20261015/]

Alex Reimer (15 Oct 2026)

George Arison says that Grindr "isn't in the business of politics."

Yet, the Grindr CEO waded into one of the most divisive and consequential topics of all: AI and mass surveillance.

Nick Wolny, a popular gay financial analyst and sharp Grindr critic, recently resurfaced an interview that Arison gave on a podcast hosted by bitcoin investor Anthony Pompliano. When asked about his personal AI use–Arison has aggressively integrated the technology into Grindr–he made a point in highlighting that he doesn't use Claude.

Naturally, Pompliano followed up. Arison proceeded to reveal that he thinks Claude is "crap," because Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei had the gall to refuse Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon.

Earlier this year, Amodei balked at Hegseth's request to use Claude for mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.

Arison says he took great umbrage to that.

"I was outrageously taken back by the choices they made about working with the DoD," he said. "I believe that as a gay man who enjoys every freedom that a person can enjoy, that's because of what America is, and part of that is we elect people to be in office, and those people make decisions about how to protect us."

If Arison thinks that Pete Hegseth is protecting LGBTQ+ people, he would be the first.

When asked for comment, a Grindr spokesperson told Queerty that users can "can opt-out at any time of having their information used for AI."
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@Sarah B

[Devlyn ✅]

When asked for comment, a Grindr spokesperson told Queerty that users can "can opt-out at any time of having their information used for AI."

I'm sure you can opt out. I'm equally sure they'll use your data anyway.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Nobody voted for Pete Hegseth.

Just saying.