Microsoft's adtech unit Xandr unlawfully shared Grindr users' sensitive data, including sexual orientation, with thousands of advertisers in automated ad auctions.

🇳🇴🏳️‍🌈 Norway's data protection authority has fined Microsoft's adtech unit #Xandr 92 million crowns ($9.61 million) for unlawfully relaying ​#Grindr users' sensitive data, like sexual orientation, to thousands of advertisers in automated ​ad auctions. Read more 👉 https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/norway-fines-microsofts-xandr-96-million-over-grindr-data-sharing-2026-10-12/

The Norwegian data protection authority issued its biggest fine ever ($9,758,476.80 USD). "– We issued such a high fine in this case because the breaches we identified were very serious. Thousands of users in Norway have been subjected to unlawful sharing of their sensitive data, says Line Coll, Director General of the Norwegian Data Protection Authority. Xandr acted as an intermediary that relayed the personal data of Grindr users in Norway, including data revealing sexual orientation, to potentially thousands of other companies. Xandr defended itself by saying that they thought Grindr had collected users’ consent, but the Norwegian Data Protection Authority does not accept that actors can simply blame one another." Read their full press release at https://www.datatilsynet.no/en/news/news-2026/microsoft-company-fined-nok-92-million-for-unlawfully-sharing-personal-data/ #dataprotection #GRINDR #XANDR #datatilsynet #consent

Norway fines #Microsoft's Xandr $9.6 million over Grindr data sharing > Norway's data protection authority has fined Microsoft's adtech unit Xandr 92 million crowns ($9.61 million) for unlawfully relaying ​Grindr users' sensitive data to thousands of advertisers, it ‌said on Monday. > Xandr relayed data revealing the sexual orientation of users of Grindr, a dating app for LGBTQIA+ people, to companies in automated ​ad auctions from July 2018 to April 2020. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/norway-fines-microsofts-xandr-96-million-over-grindr-data-sharing-2026-10-12/ #adtech

🧑‍⚖️💰 Norway’s Data Protection Authority has fined Xandr, a Microsoft-owned advertising company, $9.6M (NOK 92 million) for unlawfully processing and sharing sensitive data belonging to Grindr users in the country. This is the largest fine it has ever issued. 👉 https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/norway-fines-microsoft-ad-firm-96-million-over-grindr-data-sharing/