Grindr and OkCupid Spread Personal Details, Study Says

Popular dating services like Grindr, OkCupid and Tinder are spreading user information like dating choices and precise location to advertising and marketing companies in ways that may violate privacy laws, according to a new report that examined some of the world’s most downloaded Android apps.

Grindr, the world’s most popular gay dating app, transmitted user-tracking codes and the app’s name to more than a dozen companies, essentially tagging individuals with their sexual orientation, according to the report, which was released Tuesday by the Norwegian Consumer Council, a government-funded nonprofit organization in Oslo.

Grindr also sent a user’s location to multiple companies, which may then share that data with many other businesses, the report said. When The New York Times tested Grinder’s Android app, it shared precise latitude and longitude information with five companies.

The researchers also reported that the OkCupid app sent a user’s ethnicity and answers to personal profile questions — like “Have you used psychedelic drugs?" — to a firm that helps companies tailor marketing messages to users. The Times found that the OkCupid site had recently posted a list of more than 300 advertising and analytics “partners” with which it may share users’ information.

Fuck them.

Even if you are anonymous, in the near future, the pros will able to use facial recognition software to find out who all those people are. All the people in your online photos will be identifiable.

Well duh

surprised there isn't more outrage amongst horny homos

Anther report for those who don't care to pay the corrupt Trump-complicit NY Times paywall.

What is the DL privacy policy? People really let loose on here because it feels okay and safe but I wonder....

[quote]surprised there isn't more outrage amongst horny homos

My reaction is a duh. I assume every company is trying to track information about you for advertising and business purposes.

Hear that?

That’s the sound of tons of closeted guys canceling their accounts and deleting their profiles.

crickets

Yeah who cares. I don’t care if I’m “tagged” with my sexual orientation. This would only be an issue for closet cases.

[quote] This would only be an issue for closet cases.

There are still states where a person can be fired merely for being gay. There are states that don’t prohibit housing discrimination based on sexual orientation. There are legitimate reasons for people to be discreet and not necessarily “closet cases.”

The Mainland Chinese owner of Grindr must sell by June 2020 so he's holding a gigantic fire sale of members personal info to all comers (so to speak.)

R12 in my teens the AIDS epidemic was in full swing; it led to my not doing much, staying closeted and not talking about my life or even having a life (wah wah); nobody asks me about my orientation anymore; they just assume I'm gay.

So what. Who cares.