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Gay Dating App Sharing Medical Data.......

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ToraToraTora | 13:14 Tue 03rd Apr 2018 | News
31 Answers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-43624328
Someone please explain, leaving aside the sharing of data side of this for a minute, why does a dating app ask the client to register it's HIV status and even if they did who would be mad enough to do it?
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Those concerned that they not infect partners would give it. The service provides an opportunity to reveal the issue.
The app is used for casual sex, and in big cities like London there was over the last few years been a sharp increase in new HIV infections. Fortunately that has dropped dramatically in the last year:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hiv-wiped-out-london-doctors-drop-infections-aids-virus-defeated-dean-street-san-francisco-early-a7522241.html

Apps like grindr started working with health centres like the one on Dean St to advertise testing facilities and putting a profile feature on which stated how recently you had been tested. The idea was that if you didn't, people would be less likely to respond to you (as you'd be less "safe" a bet than someone who did put up their status) and thus there'd be an incentive to get tested regularly, use contraception, and make sure that you posted it, as you'd be more likely to get a shag.

So, that's why the feature was introduced and that's why people put it up.
Sorry, that was atrociously written. Hope it is reasonably clear.
It could be so the dating site does not get sued.

If you found a partner on that dating site and got HIV you could sue the company.

By asking people to declare their HIV status (even if they lie) the company can say we did ask people but it is not our fault if they lie.

That way they are less likely to get sued.
^ You couldn't sue the company if you were to contract HIV through a person you 'met' through their app. It was intended originally as a public health initiative. Clearly we now see what was in it for the app owners: marketable data.
I see the reasoning from your post Krom but wouldnt it be better to promote the use of condoms?

Personally, if I were to use such and app, I wold not trust what was put on there and I certainly wouldn't advertise the fact I had it if I did. Which rather renders the whole exercise pointless?
//I see the reasoning from your post Krom but wouldnt it be better to promote the use of condoms? //

Yes, it would. Unfortunately about 2-3 years ago, HIV rates were rising so rapidly that people started taking an "any means necessary" approach. Plus just promoting condoms doesn't manage incentives - putting this feature on the app meant that being safer (and sharing that information, of course) actually increased your chances of getting what you wanted from it.
-- answer removed --
@14.21
I read that as “someone who put it up their status.”
Thought that was a euphemism!

Do people really use an app to meet someone just to get sex?
What a revolting, immoral and squalid thing to do.
Surely this is the quickest way to pick up some horrible disease, or even find yourself in the clutches of a psycho axe murderer.
perhaps some people are looking for HIV infected partners?
Yes consenting adults agreeing to privately have sex for the sake of having sex. How utterly immoral and squalid :/
I think so, yes.
But I don't have the morals of an alley cat!
Spath - like many people you completely misunderstand Data Protection.

Unless the new GDPR is very different from what has been proposed, there will be no sanctions/fines for Grindr :

** as long as they have told people in advance that they will release this information **

In essence, the GDPR won't say "You can't release data" - what it will say is "You must tell people what you are going to do with their data, and not do anything else".

So as long people know what's happening, they can't complain.

[ apologies for the broad brush approach needed when reducing many hundreds of pages of legislation to a few lines ]
//I don't have the morals of an alley cat! //

Oh, get off your high horse. People have sex. So long as all parties are single, safe, consenting, and enjoy it, it's not anybody else's business. Regarding STIs: If you look at my link HIV rates in London are now in freefall.
Quite so, Kromo - I should have addressed the OP as well as correcting Spath.

Sex is good fun - as long as it hurts no-one (be they participants or other parties) - having an App to ensure that the parties involved are both consenting is simply a 21st century shortcut to a situation that has existed since time began.

I have no problem with Grindr releasing the HiV data either - as long as people knew it would be made available.
I’m not going to apologise for being repulsed by two total strangers meeting up to just have sex.

You may approve of that sort of thing, but I’m equally as entitled to disapprove.
It may not be anybody’s business, but if a discussion is started and I want to comment, then I will.

Tarquin went to the pre-arranged meeting place - behind the skip next to the sewage works.
The man didn’t look as hunky as his picture on the app.
“Are you Quentin” he asked.
“Yes” the man replied.
“O.K. Which one of us is going to take it up the gary, then?”

And there’s me thinking romance was dead!
why in your head is a pre arranged meeting place next to a skip behind a sewage works??

most people i know tend to arrange to meet in coffee shops/bars/clubs etc
Quite so fluffykins - Costa at 14:30 ?
well bogbag has inspired me, isn't there some kind of sewage works near curdworth, you never know there might be a skip around there.....
No sense of humour, then, bumfluff?
See, you’re not the only one who can play the childish name change game.

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