FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data • Hacker News Board

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#41

Post by Forgeties79 » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:23 PM UTC

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #31

junkaccount100 wrote: post #7

Throwaway account. I tried these sites a couple of times each in the past (the UK versions at least). I'm married now and fortunately don't have to deal with "the dating scene" and how awful it is/was. When I signed up for Match, about ten minutes into the process my account suddenly changed to that of another man including different photo, descriptions, orientation etc. I don't know why this happened but it was abso…

I met my current wife on OKC in 2010, before online dating became an utter cesspool. I've been out of the dating scene for 16 years now, but based on what I see on social media, I think online dating sucks today for three reasons. 1. Many men (Not all, but many) are there simply because they want to get laid. They're not looking for a relationship, they're looking for a hook-up, and they're not honest about their int…

When you say “$50+/plate” are you saying the dinner itself or each dish? Either way, (in the US) that is not considered a particularly expensive meal for an adult taking someone on a date. In 2026 you should expect $100-$200 bill with drinks basically anywhere. Going out to dinner is not cheap. $100 is actually a great deal unless we’re talking chain restaurants.

If you don’t want to spend that every first date, then I would suggest not making dinner the first date. Do something more casual first time around. Bar, coffee/walk, whatever.

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#42

Post by cjbgkagh » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:26 PM UTC

yieldcrv wrote: post #35

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I met my current wife on OKC in 2010, before online dating became an utter cesspool. I've been out of the dating scene for 16 years now, but based on what I see on social media, I think online dating sucks today for three reasons. 1. Many men (Not all, but many) are there simply because they want to get laid. They're not looking for a relationship, they're looking for a hook-up, and they're not honest about their int…

> misogynistic the definition requires "contempt", but it has been diluted to mean any statement that merely points out of corrosive behavior additionally, many of the statements are actually class based and not inherently gendered, for example, we would call out a man trying to date for free meals too, but since its seen in contexts about women, its stated in reference to that gender, masquerading as contempt and mi…

Countries are starting to criminalize ‘misogyny’ which includes interrupting women during meetings. I think Brazil is in the process of enacting such laws. These are usually being bootstrapped on civil right and hate speech laws.

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#43

Post by guelo » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:29 PM UTC

When match was illegally allowed to buy okcupid an then tinder in violation of antitrust laws is when I realized how thoroughly libertarian propaganda has won and is destroying the country. I mean we've now fully legalized gambling and bribery of politicians for the sake of fake freedom. We're cooked.

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#44

Post by realreality » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:32 PM UTC

hector_vasquez wrote: post #24

tetromino_ wrote: post #5

Key quote: > Even though it did not have any business relationship with OkCupid, the third-party data recipient asked the company to share large datasets of OkCupid user photos and related data with it because OkCupid’s founders were financial investors in the third party. OkCupid provided the third party with access to nearly three million OkCupid user photos as well as location and other information without placing…

The FTC article links to the federal complaint[0] which names the third-party data recipient as Clarifai, Inc. "In September 2014, the CEO of Clarifai, Inc. e-mailed one of OkCupid’s founders requesting that Humor Rainbow give Clarifai, Inc. (i.e., the Data Recipient) access to large datasets of OkCupid photos." [0] https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/OkCupid-MatchCo...

So, your dating photos were going to a government contractor involved with AI killer drone technology.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarifai#Military_work

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#45

Post by alsetmusic » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:35 PM UTC

CoastalCoder wrote: post #23

tetromino_ wrote: post #5

Key quote: > Even though it did not have any business relationship with OkCupid, the third-party data recipient asked the company to share large datasets of OkCupid user photos and related data with it because OkCupid’s founders were financial investors in the third party. OkCupid provided the third party with access to nearly three million OkCupid user photos as well as location and other information without placing…

I'm wondering if this means 3 million copyright violations that could be litigated in civil court.

> I'm wondering if this means 3 million copyright violations that could be litigated in civil court.

Outstanding observation! Class action suit in the making. Only lawyers get rich, but still could hurt the offenders financially.

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#46

Post by Sohcahtoa82 » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:39 PM UTC

Forgeties79 wrote: post #41

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I met my current wife on OKC in 2010, before online dating became an utter cesspool. I've been out of the dating scene for 16 years now, but based on what I see on social media, I think online dating sucks today for three reasons. 1. Many men (Not all, but many) are there simply because they want to get laid. They're not looking for a relationship, they're looking for a hook-up, and they're not honest about their int…

When you say “$50+/plate” are you saying the dinner itself or each dish? Either way, (in the US) that is not considered a particularly expensive meal for an adult taking someone on a date. In 2026 you should expect $100-$200 bill with drinks basically anywhere. Going out to dinner is not cheap. $100 is actually a great deal unless we’re talking chain restaurants. If you don’t want to spend that every first date, then…

Fair question. When I think "$50/plate", I'm thinking $50 for just the dinner main course, not including drinks, appetizer, or dessert.

> Do something more casual first time around. Bar, coffee/walk, whatever.

The problem with that is there are women that will scoff at a man trying to do something casual like coffee, tea, or ice cream for a first date. They want to be wined and dined and treated like a princess right off the bat. They think they're a prize to be won simply by being a woman.

Though I truly believe that most women are not like this. However, some are, and their attitude is probably what keeps them perpetually single.

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#47

Post by rose-knuckle17 » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:48 PM UTC

ImJamal wrote: post #22

tetromino_ wrote: post #5

Key quote: > Even though it did not have any business relationship with OkCupid, the third-party data recipient asked the company to share large datasets of OkCupid user photos and related data with it because OkCupid’s founders were financial investors in the third party. OkCupid provided the third party with access to nearly three million OkCupid user photos as well as location and other information without placing…

Just guessing, but the third party company did not break a law or go against their privacy policy. Reuters says it is "Clarifai" if you wanted to know. https://www.reuters.com/world/match-group-settles-us-ftc-cla...

no. but it seems possible, or even likely, that they used the pictures to train targeting for military drones (think Project Insight from Captain America:Winter Soldier).

I'm not sure privacy violations are the biggest concern here.

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#48

Post by ryandrake » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:53 PM UTC

john_strinlai wrote: post #13

this kind of "action"/"settlement" is too funny: >" As part of a settlement, OkCupid [...] will be prohibited from misrepresenting its privacy policies. " >" Under the proposed settlement, OkCupid and Match are permanently prohibited from misrepresenting or assisting others in misrepresenting: [...] " every company should already be "prohibited from misrepresenting its privacy policies" and the collection/controls st…

The US Government routinely treats corporations with kid gloves. When they're found to be breaking the law, the company usually says "oopsie doopsie, did we do that??" and the government in turn settles with "naughty, naughty, just don't do it again!" It's like kindergarten punishment. But if you or I break federal law, it's PMITA Prison for us.

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#49

Post by mikebenfield » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:53 PM UTC

Forgeties79 wrote: post #41

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I met my current wife on OKC in 2010, before online dating became an utter cesspool. I've been out of the dating scene for 16 years now, but based on what I see on social media, I think online dating sucks today for three reasons. 1. Many men (Not all, but many) are there simply because they want to get laid. They're not looking for a relationship, they're looking for a hook-up, and they're not honest about their int…

When you say “$50+/plate” are you saying the dinner itself or each dish? Either way, (in the US) that is not considered a particularly expensive meal for an adult taking someone on a date. In 2026 you should expect $100-$200 bill with drinks basically anywhere. Going out to dinner is not cheap. $100 is actually a great deal unless we’re talking chain restaurants. If you don’t want to spend that every first date, then…

You've missed the point. The point is that the women in question demand it. There is no shortage of women on social media ranting about how lazy or cheap men are who want to do coffee or drinks for a first date. Or especially a walk. If you suggest a walk for a first date there's a strong chance you'll never hear from her again.

Re: FTC action against Match and OkCupid for deceiving users, sharing personal data

#50

Post by dang » Mon, Mar 30, 2026, 5:54 PM UTC

rm999 wrote: post #8

This article has more information - looks like this was from 12 years ago https://www.reuters.com/world/match-group-settles-us-ftc-cla... > The FTC said OkCupid users were never told their information - including nearly 3 million photos, demographic information and location data - would be shared in 2014 with Clarifai, a facial recognition technology company, contrary to OkCupid's privacy policies.

Thanks - we've put that link in the toptext as well.