Tinder's "Traveler Alert"

Tinder has recently partnered with the
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans,
and Intersex Association, by making use of
data collected and compiled by its State-
Sponsored Homophobia Report. There are
currently, about 69 countries where being
LGBTQ is a criminal offense and Tinder is
determined to protect its LGBTQ users
from potential risks and prevent them from
getting into danger.

A new security feature is designed to warn
users of the dating app about the risks faced
by LGBTQ people in various countries
that still have laws against same-sex love.

In seven Countries, four in Asia, namely
Yemen, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Brunei, and
three in Countries in Africa Namely Nigeria,
Somalia and Sudan have a same-sex acts law
that makes anyone guilty by act or association
are punishable by death. In six other
countries, the death penalty for same-sex
involvement remains a possibility, Countries
such as Iraq, Qatar, Mauritania, United Arab
Emirates, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The new update is called “Traveler Alert,” this
the update allows every user of Tinder who is
identified as LGBTQ will by default not,
appear on Tinder once they open their app
in any of the 69 countries where being LGBTQ
is a crime.

However, If they decide to make their profile
public, the app will temporarily remove their
sexual orientation and gender identification
associated with their profile to in other to
safeguard users from law enforcement and
individuals who may be directly or indirectly
of a target to them.

“We hope that this development will raise and
increase awareness amongst all Tinder users,
and help protect people of diverse sexual
orientations in the 69 countries around
the world that are presently criminalizing
same-sex love,” André du Plessis, the
executive director at the International Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex
Association stated.

“We work hard to change practices, laws, and
attitudes that put LGBTQ people at risk —
including the use of dating apps to target our
community — but in the meantime, the safety
of our communities also depends on supporting
their digital safety,” he added.

I am indeed excited about this development,
this is because a lot of people are subjected to
various unspeakable things just because of their
sexual orientation. I look forward to a Nigeria
where your sexual orientation or association
will not determine whether you should be
allowed to live or die.