OkCupid Resolves FTC Allegations Regarding User Data Sharing

Dating platform OkCupid has reached a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) concerning allegations that it misled millions of users. The core issue involved sharing user photographs with an external facial recognition technology company without obtaining proper consent.

As part of the agreement, OkCupid and its parent organization, Match Group, did not admit to any wrongdoing. Instead, the companies committed to refraining from making similar alleged misrepresentations regarding data practices moving forward.

Details of the Data Sharing Incident

The FTC complaint detailed that the data sharing began after the facial recognition firm, Clarifai, contacted one of OkCupid’s founders in 2014. Following this outreach, OkCupid granted Clarifai access to approximately three million user photos.

This transfer also included demographic details and location information associated with those users. The FTC contended that this action directly violated OkCupid’s published privacy policy at the time.

Crucially, the company allegedly failed to provide users with any mechanism to opt out of having their data shared with third parties like Clarifai.

Allegations of Obscuring the Relationship

The FTC further alleged that OkCupid and Match Group attempted to conceal their connection with Clarifai. This alleged attempt to obscure the relationship occurred when The New York Times inquired about the matter for a news story.

Terms of the Settlement

The final settlement does not mandate any financial penalties against OkCupid or Match Group. Furthermore, it does not directly address the data that was allegedly transferred to Clarifai.

The resolution requires the companies to promise transparency regarding future data collection and sharing policies. They must also submit to compliance monitoring.

This monitoring subjects them to potential future action by the FTC should they be found to violate the terms of the newly approved court order.

FTC Statement on Enforcement

Christopher Mufarrige, director of the FTC’s consumer protection bureau, commented on the resolution. He stated that the settlement underscores the agency’s commitment to enforcing the privacy commitments that businesses make to their customers.

OkCupid has not yet issued an official comment attributed to a named spokesperson. Both Match Group and Clarifai also did not immediately provide responses to requests for comment regarding the settlement.