Match, Tinder Swipe Right For Privacy Red Flags, Say Experts

guest · Jun 20, 2019

Match, Tinder Swipe Right For Privacy Red Flags, Say Experts
Analysts at ProPrivacy say the dating apps collect everything from chat content to financial data on their users — and then they share it.
June 20, 2019
https://threatpost.com/match-tinder-invasive-privacy-practices-2/145672/

According ProPrivacy, users need to be more aware of the data privacy implications of using these type services. The privacy group is raising awareness around the amount of personal data shared with dating services in light of IAC’s privacy policies.

For instance, Match.com reserves the right to collect much more information than just the typical demographic breakdown of gender, age and relationship status that most online services ask for.
As ProPrivacy.com explained in its report, “in more detail, they know the words users use the most, what turns them on/off, how many meetings have occurred, how many connections are ghosted and how much time was spent before swiping.”

Speaking of messaging, Tinder, for its part, highlights that it collects chat data. “Of course we also process your chats with other users as well as the content you publish, as part of the operation of the services,” Tinder’s privacy policy states.
Click to expand...

The good news is that users of dating apps do know that they should concern themselves with all of this. A full 71 percent said that they worry about “what the owners of dating apps are doing with the data they collect.” Now, they just need to follow through in practice, reading the privacy policies and carefully considering what they share – and whether it’s worth it in their quest for finding a mate.
Click to expand...

guest · Jan 25, 2020

Tinder's New Panic Button Is Sharing Your Data With Ad-Tech Companies
January 24, 2020
https://gizmodo.com/tinders-new-panic-button-is-sharing-your-data-with-ad-t-1841184919

[...] the company did announce on Thursday its latest effort to curb the reputation it’s gleaned over the years: a “panic button” that connects each user with emergency responders.
With the help of a company called Noonlight, Tinder users will be able to share the details of their date—and their given location—in the event that law enforcement needs to get involved.

While on one hand, the announcement is a positive step as the company tries to wrangle the worst corners of its user base. On the other hand, as Tinder confirmed in an email to Gizmodo, Tinder users will need to download the separate, free Noonlight app to enable these safety features within Tinder’s app— [...] free apps, by design, aren’t very good at keeping user data quiet, even if that data concerns something as sensitive as sexual assault.

Unsurprisingly, Noonlight’s app is no exception.
Click to expand...

After Gizmodo revealed that we had analyzed the app’s network, and that the network data showed that there were third parties in there, Noonlight cofounder Nick Droege offered the following via email, roughly four hours after the company vehemently denied the existence of any partnerships:

"Noonlight uses third parties like Branch and Kochava only for understanding standard user attribution and improving internal in-app messaging. The information that a third party receives does not include any personally identifiable data. [...]"
What is clear, in this particular case, is that even if the data isn’t “sold,” it is changing hands with the third parties involved.

It should be pointed out that Tinder, even without Noonlight integration, has historically shared data with Facebook and otherwise collects troves of data about you.
Click to expand...

For when you swipe right but it doesn’t feel right: Tinder now has a panic button

Tinder is rolling out a panic button for dates that take a dangerous turn.
In a bid to lessen the potential risk of meeting with strangers, the popular matchmaking app also will give users the option to log in date details and share location data.

Tinder’s parent company, Match Group, is partnering with Noonlight, an app that uses location data to connect people with emergency responders.
Starting Tuesday, Tinder users can add a badge to their profiles that show they are “protected by Noonlight” and enter information about an upcoming date. Though Noonlight cautions that it is not a replacement for 911, it says it is an option in situations when a person can’t talk or text, or isn’t comfortable dialing 911.

Users must give permission for Noonlight to track their locations. Ginsberg told The Wall Street Journal that Noonlight won’t transfer that data to Match Group or use it for marketing.
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Match, Tinder Swipe Right For Privacy Red Flags, Say Experts

guest Guest

guest Guest

Log in or Sign up

Match, Tinder Swipe Right For Privacy Red Flags, Say Experts

guest Guest

guest Guest

Useful Searches