Reports have emerged that Egyptian authorities are exploiting Grindr’s mapping power to entrap and arrest gay men.

Gay men in Egypt using Grindr may be vulnerable to entrapment by police posing as gay men and looking to arrest men on charges of debauchery and indecency, according to multiple media reports.

Grindr is a location-based dating app used around the world by gay men seeking casual sexual encounters with other gay or bi men — and for finding friends and romantic relationships.

The Washington Post recently cited a German newspaper, Sueddeutsche Zeitung, as its source for a story about Egyptian authorities who were exploiting Grindr’s mobile app to locate and arrest gay men in Cairo. The Post did note that it could not independently confirm the German outlet’s report.

However, the Post did confirm the authenticity of an Egyptian Twitter user with the handle @GrindrMap, whose website urges Grindr users in repressive and dangerous countries for LGBT people to protect themselves from being located by changing their settings on the Grindr app.

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