Egyptian Cops Using Grindr To Hunt Gays

Egyptian government spies are using dating apps, including Grindr, to catch gays and lesbians in the act, CairoScene can reveal.

A source close to the gay and lesbian community claims that the apps are putting the country's homosexuals in danger.

"It's a bad system right now," he said. "There have been a number of arrests in the last few months linked to these applications. They are using technology to triangulate the location.

"It is possible to tell a user's position within a few hundred metres, and many users include personal pictures, making them easily identifiable to cops.

"It baffles me how easily people are willing to share such personal information in a country like Egypt - it is beyond stupid. I would advise anyone to be careful when dating online."

An article on the popular Gay Egypt website warned users to avoid posting personal information or pictures on applications such as Grindr.

A spokesperson for the site advised users to remain vigilant when using the app.

"Even if you live in a densely populated area, you only have maybe 500 houses within a 100 metre radius," he said. "If you live in a smaller area - the risk is even higher.

"I used to have software installed on my phone with a gay radar linked - it told my exact location up to 100 metres wherever I went. I would advise anybody using these applications to be extremely careful. Remember we are gay and we are in Egypt.

"It is a very dangerous situation, just be careful - we are already being monitored," he added.

The news mirrors a similar move by the hardline Islamic state Iran, which saw 200 gay and lesbian Grindr users rounded up when authorities there issued a clampdown on Grindr users.

The warning comes just hours after a video claiming to show Egypt's first gay wedding went viral online. Egyptian authorities have launched a severe clampdown in recent months, leading to the arrest of hundreds of gay and lesbian couples.

A raid on a sauna in Cairo's El-Marg district in October last year saw 14 men arrested and charged with a variety of offences linked to so-called "indecent behaviour." 

In November, nine men were arrested on similar at a private party in 6th October city.