Match Group, a US-based company that owns dating platforms including OkCupid, has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the US Federal Trade Commission over allegations that OkCupid shared user data with a third party without proper disclosure, according to court filings.
The case relates to the handling of user information by OkCupid, an online dating service operated by Humor Rainbow, Inc., a subsidiary of Match Group. Regulators stated that the platform shared data with Clarifai, a technology company that develops facial recognition systems, as part of an earlier data transfer arrangement.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, the shared data included nearly three million user photos, along with demographic details and location information. The agency stated that users were not informed that their data would be shared with an external company, which contradicted the platform’s stated privacy policies.
The proposed settlement introduces a long-term set of obligations governing how OkCupid describes and manages user data. The Federal Trade Commission is seeking a court order that would apply for up to 20 years, requiring the company to provide accurate disclosures about how user photos, messages, and location data are handled.
Under the agreement, Match Group is prohibited from misrepresenting its data practices and must certify compliance with the new requirements. The company did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, according to filings.
The data sharing activity referenced in the case dates back to 2014. Regulators stated that the information was used by Clarifai to support the development of facial recognition systems. The Federal Trade Commission said the transfer took place without clear notice to users and without obtaining appropriate consent.
OkCupid stated that its current practices differ from those described in the case and that it has updated its privacy processes since the events in question. The company indicated that the conduct referenced by regulators does not reflect how the platform operates today.
The settlement is subject to court approval and includes provisions that allow for penalties if the company fails to comply with the requirements in the future.