Dating App Cofounder Bails After Scandal Over Using Fake…

Derek Chadwick, cofounder of the gay dating app Goose, has resigned from the company following a scandal involving the use of fake, AI-generated influencers to attract new users. The resignation occurred shortly after an investigation revealed the platform was employing deceptive social media tactics to drive app sign-ups.

What happened

Goose, which marketed itself as a relationship-focused alternative to Grindr, utilized fake Instagram accounts to target potential users. An investigation discovered that these accounts featured AI-generated profile pictures and exhibited suspicious following-to-follower ratios. To entice men to join the platform, these accounts initiated direct messages and added individuals to "Close Friend" stories. Within these stories, an AI deepfake of an attractive man was used to woo followers, creating the illusion of an exclusive club that required a Goose membership to join.

Following the publication of these findings, Chadwick announced his departure on Instagram, stating that his vision for the company no longer aligned with its current direction. While he did not explicitly detail the controversy, he noted that he could no longer stand behind the company once he could not fully support its actions. Goose confirmed Chadwick's departure in a statement to the media, expressing gratitude for his previous leadership, but offered no further context regarding the investigation or the use of AI influencers.