Mozilla Report Reveals 80% of Dating Apps Share Personal Info

Half of Dating Apps Tested Barely Try to Protect User Data

Open-source software creator Mozilla takes user privacy seriously. Its companies include the Firefox browser, Thunderbird email client, Mozilla VPN, the Camino Mac browser, and a suite of communication applications called SeaMonkey. Recently, the infamously security obsessed Mozilla revisited and reviewed a number of popular dating apps. The news was not good. In fact, it was even worse than 2021.

Of 25 dating apps tested, it was found that 22 of them share user information with unauthorized third parties. In one case, a Catholic group purchased some Grindr data to track clergy use of the app, which had the worst safety rating. Further, it is currently being sued for releasing the HIV status of its subscribers. Additionally, 52 percent of popular dating apps barely try to secure user data. This has resulted in 80 percent of the reviewed apps being awarded the “Privacy Not Included” label by Mozilla Foundation.

Although Grindr came in a solid last of the 25 apps for security, three other apps came close. CoffeeMeetsBagel, Black People Meet, and OurTime all scraped bottom. Also earning the “Privacy Not Included” label are Badoo, BLK, Bumble, Christian Mingle, Elite Singles, Facebook Dating, and Her. Coming out on top were Happn, eharmony, and Lex, which earned Mozilla’s only “thumbs up.”

Making things even more dicey is the introduction of AI functions. According to Mozilla, more than half of the reviewed apps have already integrated the tech into their platforms with others planning to follow suit. While some of the updates have had merit, OKCupid’s intention to use facial recognition programs has raised concerns, especially since the FTC launched an investigation into its data-sharing policies in 2022.

Part of the problem, which could easily become a solution, is that two companies own the vast majority of dating apps. The Match Group owns Tinder, Match, OKCupid, Plenty of Fish, and OurTime while Spark Network owns Bumble, Badoo, JDate, and Zoosk for starters. Match Group, which gets the most traffic on its dating apps, may be popular but it also cross-shares data between its apps without permission.

Additionally, the sloppy security of most dating apps increases the chance that members will encounter romance scammers. These people fake interest in a person and then extract money from them, claiming they need it for rent, car repairs, emergencies, or even sexy clothes and shoes. The FTC claims that $1.14 billion was stolen by these means in 2023 alone. Although no app is magically protected against these scammers, the worse the security, the more info they have when they initiate contact.

Suggestions for protection against these hazards include not linking social media to dating apps. Not providing microphone, location, camera, or phone book permissions. Most important is remembering that anything online may wind up where it was never intended, so don’t share anything you can’t easily explain.

Check the Mozilla Foundation site for the full list of apps reviewed by Mozilla.