FTC Finalizes Privacy Enforcement Order Against Match Group and OkCupid
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
On March 30, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint and a stipulated final order against OkCupid and Match Group Americas which addresses allegations that the dating platform deceived users by sharing personal information with an unrelated third party.
The specific underlying violations involved the transfer of nearly three million user photos, alongside location and other personal information.
The FTC noted that the unauthorized data sharing, and subsequent efforts by Match and OkCupid to conceal the transfers, occurred from September 2014 onward.
The proposed settlement permanently prohibits OkCupid and Match Group Americas from misrepresenting how they collect, maintain, use, disclose, delete, or protect user information.
The order further bars the companies from misleading consumers regarding the specific purposes of their data collection and the actual functionality of user privacy controls and opt-out mechanisms.
This resolution follows the FTC's successful federal court enforcement of a Civil Investigative Demand that compelled OkCupid to surrender requested operational information.
This enforcement penalizes the practice of transferring user data to entities outside of service providers or business partners, including those in which company founders hold financial investments, without explicit consumer notification, opt-out opportunities, or formal contractual use restrictions.
The regulatory action strictly applies to Humor Rainbow, Inc. and Match Group Americas.
