A new study found that many popular dating and women's health apps share intimate user data with dozens of companies involved in the advertising industry. Data shared with these companies could even be used to indicate users' sexual orientation and religious beliefs, but these apps also share other personal information, including birthdays, GPS data, and phone numbers. identification associated with users' smartphones that could be used to link all data to a single person. The Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) advocacy group conducted the study that analyzed 10 apps, including Grindr, OKCupid, Tinder, Clue and MyDays, and found that they collectively shared users' personal data with at least 135 companies. While Amazon, Facebook, and Google are among the most popular companies these apps share data with, they also share personal information with companies that aren't widely known outside of the tech industry. than AppsFlyer, Physical and Receptiv.
Data exchange
According to the study, data sharing is not limited to these applications, and in its report, the NCC explained that it is likely a widespread practice, stating: "Due to the scope of testing, the size of observed third parties receiving data, and the popularity of the apps, we believe the results of these tests are representative of current practice." Many of the companies involved make money by compiling details about individual consumers to create comprehensive profiles for the purpose of serving personalized and personalized ads. For example, hedge funds and other companies buy location data to analyze retail sales and plan investments, while political campaigns use personal data collected from users' smartphones to identify potential supporters for targeted awareness. During their study, the NCC found numerous GDPR violations by these apps, but the LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr was the worst offender. The organization even plans to file an official complaint against the company and other companies that have received data from Grindr. Now that the GDPR has been in effect for two years and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) has just gone into effect earlier this year, it is expected that government agencies and other consumer organizations will not allow this great amount of data sharing continue.- Protect your privacy online with the best VPN services