OkCupid Reports New Settlement with FTC on User Data Sharing Violations

OkCupid and its parent company, Match Group, have reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over sharing nearly three million users’ photos, location data, and demographic information with a facial recognition company, Clarifai, without user consent, according to multiple reports including Ars Technica and The Verge. The sharing reportedly occurred starting in 2014 and involved misrepresentations about the company’s data practices.

The FTC’s complaint highlights that OkCupid concealed these data-sharing activities from users and the public, falsely claiming no involvement when the issue surfaced, as noted by The New Republic. Although no fines were imposed, the companies agreed to a 20-year order forbidding further deceptive conduct regarding their treatment of user data, reported by Mashable and Engadget.

Clarifai, the firm that received the images for facial recognition training, still retains nearly three million photos, raising concerns about the adequacy of the penalties, according to The New Republic. OkCupid and Match Group did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement, which instead focuses on preventing future misrepresentations and enhancing privacy safeguards.

The FTC’s action underscores ongoing scrutiny of data-sharing practices in the online dating industry and the importance of transparency in handling sensitive user information. Observers will be watching how effectively this settlement and new compliance measures prevent recurrence and whether additional regulatory measures will be pursued.