12 arrested in Kerala teen sexual abuse case linked to gay dating app
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Twelve people have been arrested in Kerala in connection with the sexual exploitation of a 16-year-old boy through the gay dating app Grindr.
Police said the accused include individuals from varied professional backgrounds, such as a civil contractor, an assistant educational officer, a railway protection force officer, and a Youth League leader. One of the most recent arrests was that of a civil contractor from Kannur.
The case came to light after the boy’s mother noticed suspicious activity on his phone. Police later confirmed that 16 people were involved, of whom 12 have been taken into custody so far.
The investigation has drawn attention to serious gaps in online safety.
Grindr, like other dating platforms, requires users to be at least 18 years old but relies only on self-declared information. Police warned that minors can easily bypass the age restriction by entering a false date of birth, leaving them exposed to predators.
Authorities have now called for stricter regulations to protect minors. “The current self-declaration system is insufficient,” police officials said, stressing that stronger measures like government-issued ID verification or biometric checks are needed to prevent such crimes.
The case has sparked broader debate on digital safety and the responsibility of social media and dating platforms in safeguarding users. Child rights activists and the police said tech companies must be held accountable for preventing exploitation.
Grindr has recently rolled out additional age verification measures in some countries, including the UK. However, Kerala police and activists argue that India needs equally stringent, if not tougher, systems to prevent misuse of such apps for criminal purposes.