Argentina's President Engages Big Tech with Tinder's Co-Founder

President Javier Milei seeks to charm the world's tech sector in a bold initiative to bolster Argentina's economic engagement. He is starting with a notable connection through Tinder's co-founder.

Milei's Quest for Economic Alliances

As Argentina grapples with an economy under strain, President Milei, leveraging his notoriety as a staunch libertarian and former economics pundit, is making strategic overtures toward global Big Tech.

Reuters reported that on social media platform X, Milei announced a prospective gathering in Buenos Aires to be orchestrated after his virtual conference with Tinder co-founder Sean Rad. His goal is to convene a summit of tech entrepreneurs to stoke business interests across multiple sectors, including tech, oil, and mining.

Channel News Asia noted that Milei's unexpected rise to power came with promises to disrupt the economic status quo and to pilot the country clear of its dire fiscal predicament, characterized by soaring inflation and entrenched poverty levels affecting over 40% of the population. With accolades from international business magnates like X's Elon Musk and forecasts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projecting an economic downturn of 2.8% this year, Milei's foray into high-tech diplomacy could signal a turn of the tide for Argentina's financial fortunes.

Tech and Tinder

Amidst this push for economic revitalization, Tinder — the globally recognized dating app owned by Match Group Inc. — is contending with its geopolitical developments. Two weeks before Milei's announcement, the app stirred the news with its intention to cease operations in Belarus by February 15, granting users a narrow window for connection before Valentine's Day.

The move, preceded by Tinder's pullout from Russia in July 2023, aligns with Match Group's professed commitment to human rights. While the company has not openly discussed its departure, it's speculated that the decision may be influenced by instances of the Belarusian regime tracking dissenters through dating profiles, as was the case when a local protestor got arrested.

The strings of withdrawal from Russian and Belarusian markets add Tinder to the growing roster of corporations resisting President Alexander Lukashenko's regime and its alignment with Russia amidst the invasion of Ukraine, underscoring the complex interplay between technologies of connection and international socio-political dynamics.

Photo: Tinder Newsroom