Your personal data shared on the world's top dating sites may have already been sold to third party companies. Information including real-time location, your sexual orientation, history of drug and a host of other sensitive data was passed on as part of a revenue model for cash hungry dating app firms. This according to a report by the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) released earlier in the week.
The NCC hired Mnemonic, a cyber security firm, to analyze how user data meant for advertising technology companies was pulled by software embedded in 10 Android apps popular with consumers. The findings were then detailed in a report showing precisely what type of user information that each app shares with what ad-tech company.
Tinder, OkCupid and Grindr were the most severely mentioned in the practices that may breach European data privacy laws. Grindr, the most popular gay dating site for example conveyed user-tracking codes and app names to over a dozen companies. In addition they shared user location with exact latitude and longitude data to a number of other companies.
OkCupid on its part spread info about user ethnicity and answers users gave to their use of psychedelic drugs Such data is then used to tailor marketing messages to users without their knowledge. Tinder on the other hand , passed on information regarding a user's preferred dating gender- a move that could reveal non-heterosexual users. This could endanger the safety of users especially in nations where consensual same-sex carnal acts are unlawful.
The report shows how the surveillance employed by this apps, enables a number of businesses to profile and target individuals with ads in an effort to sway their consumption behavior. User information in apps is normally linked to a unique tracking code.for each mobile device. With the tracking codes companies can build elaborate profiles of consumers over time through several sites and apps. This means even without your real name, you could be identified and tracked in a real life situation.
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