OkCupid gave 3 million dating-app photos to facial recognition firm, FTC says

April 1, 2026
OkCupid gave 3 million dating-app photos to facial recognition firm, FTC says

Here’s something that’ll make you think twice about your dating app photos — OkCupid shared nearly 3 million user pics with a facial recognition company without telling anyone. According to Jon Brodkin writing in Ars Technica, this happened way back in 2014, and users had no idea their photos, along with location data, were handed over. Now, here’s where it gets wild — the FTC, under a mostly Republican-led commission, reached a settlement with OkCupid and Match Group. They won’t face a fine, but they’ve agreed to stop misleading users about how they share personal info. And get this — while they didn’t admit wrongdoing, they’re bound by a permanent ban on misrepresenting data use. As Brodkin reports, the settlement still needs judge approval, but the whole thing raises big questions about privacy and transparency. So what does this actually mean for your online dating life? Well, it’s a reminder to be cautious about what you share — and who’s really got access to it.

OkCupid and its owner Match Group reached a settlement with the Trump administration for not telling dating-app customers that nearly 3 million user photos were shared with a company making a facial recognition system. OkCupid also gave the facial recognition firm access to user location information and other details without customers' consent, the Federal Trade Commission said.

OkCupid and Match do not have to pay a financial penalty in a deal made with the FTC over an incident from 2014. OkCupid and Match did not admit or deny the allegations but agreed to a permanent prohibition barring them from misrepresenting how they use and share personal data, the FTC said yesterday.

The FTC has been run entirely by Republicans since President Trump fired both Democratic commissioners. The proposed settlement requires approval from a judge and was submitted in US District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

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Audio Transcript

OkCupid and its owner Match Group reached a settlement with the Trump administration for not telling dating-app customers that nearly 3 million user photos were shared with a company making a facial recognition system. OkCupid also gave the facial recognition firm access to user location information and other details without customers' consent, the Federal Trade Commission said.

OkCupid and Match do not have to pay a financial penalty in a deal made with the FTC over an incident from 2014. OkCupid and Match did not admit or deny the allegations but agreed to a permanent prohibition barring them from misrepresenting how they use and share personal data, the FTC said yesterday.

The FTC has been run entirely by Republicans since President Trump fired both Democratic commissioners. The proposed settlement requires approval from a judge and was submitted in US District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Read full article

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