Norway fines Microsoft ad firm $9.6 million over Grindr data sharing
Norway fines Microsoft-owned Xandr $9.6 million for unlawfully sharing sensitive Grindr user data with advertisers.
Norway’s Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) fined Xandr, now Microsoft Advertising, NOK 92 million ($9.6 million)—its largest fine—for unlawfully processing sensitive Grindr user data between July 2018 and April 2020. The authority found Xandr ran real-time ad auctions that exposed profiling data, including sexual orientation, to thousands of advertisers without verifying valid explicit consent. Noyb and the Norwegian Consumer Council, which complained in January 2020, welcomed the ruling. Xandr has three weeks to appeal; Microsoft said the conduct predates its acquisition and that it is reviewing the decision.
- Datatilsynet issued its largest fine, NOK 92 million ($9.6 million), against Xandr.
- From July 2018 to April 2020, Grindr ad auctions exposed sexual-orientation data to advertisers.
- Xandr did not verify that Grindr had obtained valid explicit consent.
- Microsoft said the conduct predates its Xandr acquisition and is reviewing options.
- Vendors
- Microsoft
- Products
- GrindrMicrosoft Advertising
- Victims
- Grindr users
- Organizations
- DatatilsynetNoybNorwegian Consumer CouncilXandr
- Countries
- Norway
From the original article
2 min read at bleepingcomputer.com
Norway's Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) has fined Microsoft-owned advertising company Xandr NOK 92 million ($9. 6M) for unlawfully processing and sharing sensitive data belonging to Grindr users in the country. [...]
By Bill Toulas · bleepingcomputer.com
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