Hook-Up App Users Face Rising Tide of Violence
Authorities warn of vigilante attacks targeting LGBTQIA+ community across Australia.
A surge in violent attacks is targeting men who use dating and hook-up apps in Australia. Lured by fake profiles, victims are being assaulted, robbed, and even filmed by groups of attackers, some as young as 13, prompting police to issue warnings and investigate the disturbing trend.
Gruesome Details Emerge From Attacks
One victim, identified as Josh, recounted a terrifying ordeal where he was ambushed and beaten with metal bars after arranging to meet someone he connected with on Grindr. “Am I going to make it out of here alive?”
he remembers thinking during the assault. The attackers filmed the assault, calling him a paedophile. He was badly injured and nearly required intensive care.
In another case, five teenage boys were jailed for what authorities described as “planned and premeditated”
attacks in Western Australia. One victim was stripped, tasered, and chased into a swamp after being lured via a dating app.
Police Investigations Uncover Disturbing Motives
In Victoria, police have arrested 35 alleged offenders. Jeremy Oliver, Victoria Police’s LGBTIQA+ Communities Portfolio Manager, noted the disturbing trend of “posting and boasting”
where assaults are filmed and shared on social media. “Part of it is a rise in anti-LGBTIQA+ sentiment or rhetoric that’s happening around the world,”
Oliver told 7.30.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker said that attackers often perceive themselves as vigilantes, motivated by bias against the LGBTQIA+ community. Police have laid 39 charges relating to 44 incidents reported since January 2024 in NSW.
Underreporting Hinders Efforts
Many victims are hesitant to report these crimes, fearing their sexuality will be exposed. According to a 2023 report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, LGBTQ adults are four times more likely than non-LGBTQ adults to be victims of violent hate crimes (Williams Institute).
One victim recounted being chased into a busy intersection and harassed after being lured by a fake profile. “It was the first time I’ve feared for my life,”
he said. Despite believing in police investigations, he worried about protecting his privacy.
Both NSW and Victoria police are emphasizing that victims’ consent is needed to give evidence and that screenshots are valuable for inquiries. “We do not need the entire content of that victim’s phone,”
McCusker stated.
Dating Apps Under Scrutiny
Criminology PhD candidate Hannah Robertson from the Australian National University suggests anonymity on hook-up apps provides cover for offenders. She noted that the Australian government’s dating app code, which requires reporting mechanisms for online-enabled harm, is voluntary and doesn’t specifically include hate crimes.
While Grindr is a signatory to the code and has been cooperative with police, other apps are less responsive. Authorities urge victims to come forward, stressing that it is “never too late to make a report.”
Josh, urging other victims to come forward, stated, “don’t be scared to come forward because we want to hold those accountable for what they’ve done.”
Tech’s Role and Societal Factors
Robertson believes addressing the hate ideology driving these attacks is crucial, stating that perpetrators will find other means if technology is the sole focus. Josh believes the apps could do more for user safety but also points to “toxic masculinity”
as a contributing factor.
As investigations continue, authorities and community advocates are working to address both the immediate threat and the underlying societal issues fueling these disturbing attacks.
