FTC sues OKCupid, Match for illegal data sharing

The Federal Trade Commission brought legal action against two dating websites for allegedly deceiving users and sharing personal information with a third party, according to a Monday statement. Regulators brought legal action against OkCupid and its affiliate, Match Group Americas, for violating the company’s promises of privacy, the statement said. The companies shared photos, location information, and other personal data from millions of users with an unrelated third party, according to the FTC.

OkCupid and its affiliate told consumers the site doesn’t share personal information with others outside of its privacy policy or without giving users the chance to opt out, according to the FTC’s filing. The companies also took extensive steps to hide the illegal personal data sharing, the FTC added. Regulators accused OkCupid of obstructing an FTC investigation by trying to hide evidence of data sharing.

How are the companies responding? An OkCupid spokesperson told WORLD on Monday that the company already settled the matter with the FTC without admitting any wrongdoing. The settlement included no monetary penalty and resolved an issue from 2014, according to the spokesperson’s statement. The company has since strengthened its privacy practices and data governance, so the FTC’s alleged conduct doesn’t reflect how the company operates today, the spokesperson added.

WORLD also reached out to Match for comment. This story will be updated with any response received.