Grindr and OkCupid Spread Personal Stats, Study Claims

Norwegian research raises questions regarding whether particular methods of sharing of information violate information privacy laws and regulations in European countries and also the usa.

By Natasha Singer and Aaron Krolik

Popular online dating services like Grindr, OkCupid and Tinder are distributing individual information like dating alternatives and exact location to marketing organizations in manners which will violate privacy laws and regulations, in accordance with a unique report that analyzed a few of the world’s most installed Android os apps.

Grindr, the world’s many popular gay relationship software, sent user-tracking codes together with app’s name to a lot more than a dozen businesses, basically tagging people who have their intimate orientation, in line with the report, that has been released Tuesday because of the Norwegian customer Council, a government-funded nonprofit company in Oslo.

Grindr additionally delivered a user’s location to numerous companies, which could then share that data with several other companies, the report stated. Whenever ny instances tested Grindr’s Android os application, it shared accurate latitude and longitude information with five businesses.

The scientists additionally stated that the app that is okCupid a user’s ethnicity and responses to individual profile questions — like “Have you used psychedelic medications?” — to a company that can help companies tailor advertising messages to users. The days unearthed that the site that is okCupid recently published a summary of a lot more than 300 marketing analytics “partners” with which it would likely share users’ information.

“Any customer with the average range apps to their phone — anywhere between 40 and 80 apps — could have their information distributed to hundreds or maybe lots and lots of actors online,” said Finn Myrstad, the electronic policy manager for the Norwegian Consumer Council, who oversaw the report. Continue reading →