Consumers Affected
3,000,000
The FTC settled with Humor Rainbow, Inc. (operator of OkCupid) and Match Group Americas over allegations that OkCupid deceived users by sharing personal data including photos and location information with an unauthorized third party, contrary to its privacy policy promises to inform users and provide opt-out opportunities. The settlement permanently prohibits the companies from misrepresenting their data collection, use, disclosure, and privacy control practices. No monetary penalty was imposed.
The companies are permanently enjoined from misrepresenting any aspects of their personal data collection, use, disclosure, protection, or deletion practices, the purpose of such processing, or the functionality of their privacy controls and consumer options under state privacy laws. No monetary penalty was imposed.
In-house legal teams should review data processing and sharing clauses in vendor, customer, and partner agreements to ensure they align with public privacy policy promises, particularly regarding third-party data sharing and opt-out rights. Vendor agreements must include explicit restrictions on how shared user data (including photos, geolocation, and demographic information) can be used, and require third parties to notify the company of any data use changes. Customer-facing privacy policies and associated terms of service should be audited to confirm that all representations about data sharing, opt-out mechanisms, and privacy controls are accurate and implemented in practice. Additionally, agreements with affiliates and investors should prohibit unauthorized data sharing based on non-business relationships, and include breach notification clauses requiring prompt disclosure of any unauthorized data disclosures.
Entity
Humor Rainbow, Inc. and Match Group Americas
Industry
Social MediaOfficial Press Release
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/03/ftc-takes-action-against-match-okcupid-deceiving-users-sharing-personal-data-third-party
OkCupid MatchComplaint
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/OkCupid-MatchComplaint.pdf
MatchGroupAmericasandHumorRainbowStipulatedOrder
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/MatchGroupAmericasandHumorRainbowStipulatedOrder.pdf
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement Page
https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement
"March 30, 2026"
"OkCupid, operated by Dallas-based Humor Rainbow, Inc., and Match Group Americas, which provides services for Humor Rainbow, will be prohibited from misrepresenting its privacy policies."
"As part of a settlement, OkCupid, operated by Dallas-based Humor Rainbow, Inc., and Match Group Americas, which provides services for Humor Rainbow, will be prohibited from misrepresenting its privacy policies."
"OkCupid gave an unauthorized third party access to the personal data of millions of OkCupid users in violation of its privacy policies."
"its privacy policy at the time claimed it may share personal information with service providers, business partners, other entities within its family of businesses or when it informed consumers about such data sharing and gave consumers the chance to opt out. Despite these promises, OkCupid shared users’ personal data with a third party—even though it was not a service provider, business partner, or family affiliate—and did not inform consumers or give them the chance to opt out of such sharing."
"sharing their personal information, including photos and location information, with an unrelated third party"
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$1.9M
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