Tinder in turn leaves Russia, worried about “human rights”

Match Group, the parent company of dating app Tinder, announced on Tuesday that it would cease all operations in Russia, more than a year after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to a publication of the group, the latter will cease its activities on the spot by June 30, justifying this decision by “our desire to defend human rights”.

Based in Texas, Match Group published the information in its annual impact report, which takes stock of the progress of the group's social, societal and environmental responsibility. "Our brands are putting in place the conditions to restrict access to our services from Russia and will have fully taken effect of their withdrawal from the Russian market by June 30," the report said. Asked by AFP, the Match group declined to comment.

The departure of the group specializing in dating services, with Tinder but also Hinge, Meetic or even match.com, is the latest example of Western companies having chosen to leave or suspend their activities in Russia in the wake of the outbreak. of the war in Ukraine.

These departures have notably enabled Chinese companies to often come and take over, but also for Russia to try to develop local alternatives, particularly in the technology sector. Match Group's exit from Russia also comes as the local government tightens legislation to regulate the tech sector amid growing political repression.