It's not the only homicide in B.C. that has recently prompted concerns about potential risks associated with apps like Grindr, or men-seeking-men websites, from users, advocacy groups and police.
The Kamloops detachment also issued a warning to take precautions when meeting new people through online platforms, telling users to share plans with friends or family, arrange check-ins before and after meetings, and to meet in public if possible.
The murders of Lo and Zafar are not the first of their kind in Canada, linked to online dating platforms.
Investigations into the disappearances of Andrew Kinsman and Selim Esen from Toronto’s gay village in 2017 revealed they had been active on apps like Grindr and Tinder prior to their deaths.
Kennedy said that the recent deaths in B.C. happened against the backdrop of a rise in anti‑2SLGBTQI hate, citing research by Egale suggesting rhetoric and violence in Canada began sharply escalating in early 2022 and has not slowed.
Grindr, for example, is a proximity-based app that has previously prompted concerns over the ability for strangers to triangulate someone’s physical location. However, Dietzel said, there is now an option to remove the exact-distance feature.
Dietzel said gay men, particularly those who are not public about their sexual identity, may seek apps that prioritize anonymity in seeking out intimate partners. Grindr offers that.