Grindr and OkCupid Spread Personal Stats, Study Claims
Norwegian research raises questions about whether particular methods for sharing of information violate information privacy guidelines in European countries together with united states of america.
By Natasha Singer and Aaron Krolik
Popular online dating services like Grindr, OkCupid and Tinder are distributing individual information like dating alternatives and exact location to marketing and advertising businesses in manners which could violate privacy laws and regulations, relating to a fresh report that analyzed a few of the world’s most downloaded Android os apps.
Grindr, the world’s many popular gay relationship application, sent user-tracking codes together with app’s name to more than a dozen organizations, basically tagging those with their intimate orientation, based on the report, that has been released Tuesday because of the Norwegian customer Council, a government-funded nonprofit company in Oslo.
Grindr additionally delivered a user’s location to numerous organizations, that might then share that data with several other organizations, the report stated. As soon as the nyc circumstances tested Grindr’s Android os application, it shared exact latitude and longitude information with five organizations.
The scientists additionally stated that the app that is okCupid a user’s ethnicity and responses to individual profile questions — like “Have you utilized psychedelic medications?» — to a company that can help businesses tailor advertising messages to users. (más…)