⚠ Data Sensitivity Tier 2: Dating App Data

Dating app data requires heightened privacy protections - it includes sexual orientation, intimate preferences, precise location, private messages, and behavioral patterns. Tinder is part of Match Group, which owns 45+ dating-related businesses including Hinge, OkCupid, and Match.com. This review focuses exclusively on documented policy language with exact citations.

🏢 Match Group Ownership Structure

Tinder is owned by Match Group, which operates 45+ dating platforms. The Data Controller is MTCH Technology Services Ltd. Data practices involve sharing across the Match Group family of companies, as documented in the citations below.

📊 Data Collection Scope

Chat and Content Data

Tinder explicitly collects all messages and content you share on the platform:

"Of course we also process your chats with other users as well as the content you publish, as part of the operation of the services"
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in Threatpost

Sensitive Personal Information

Tinder collects information that may reveal sexual orientation and gender identity:

"At Tinder, users can share information on their profile that reveals their sexual orientation and gender, which may be considered sensitive data under some laws and regulations."
Source: Tinder Help Center - How does Tinder use my sensitive data?

Precise Geolocation Data

Tinder collects precise location data, potentially even when the app is not actively in use:

"From time to time, we may ask for your consent to collect specific information such as your precise geolocation or use your information for certain specific reasons."
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in Mozilla Foundation

Inferences and Profiling

Tinder creates inferences about users' psychological characteristics:

"inferences about 'preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, and aptitudes'"
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in Mozilla Foundation Privacy Review

Biometric Data (Photo Verification)

For Photo Verification, Tinder collects facial geometry data:

"Your facial geometry data is retained for the lifetime of your account, and is deleted from systems within 30 days after the closure of your account."
Source: Tinder Help Center - Photo Verification

👥 Third-Party Sharing

Service Providers and Partners

Tinder shares data with vendors and partners:

"we share data with vendors and partners who help us operate, promote and improve our service."
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - Section on Data Sharing, as cited in DPAS

Financial and Personal Information Sharing

Tinder shares personal and financial data with third parties:

"shares data, 'including personal and financial information, with third parties that perform certain services on our behalf'"
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in Threatpost

Targeted Advertising

Tinder shares data with advertisers for targeted advertising purposes:

"We may share this information with other Match Group companies and third parties (notably advertisers) to develop and deliver targeted advertising on our services and on websites or applications of third parties."
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in Mozilla Foundation Privacy Review

Match Group Affiliate Sharing

Data may be shared across Match Group's family of dating companies:

"Tinder is part of the Match Group family of companies, and may (where permitted) use sensitive data to help provide users with the best experience across Match Group platforms."
Source: Tinder Help Center - How does Tinder use my sensitive data?

Geolocation Sharing

Your location data may be shared with third parties:

"We may also share your geolocation information in de-identified form with Match Group companies and third parties for the above purposes."
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in VPN Overview

Law Enforcement Access

Tinder may share data with law enforcement:

"Tinder may share your personal information with law enforcement, when it's required by law or to 'assist in the prevention or detection of crime (subject in each case to applicable law).'"
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in multiple privacy analyses

🕐 Data Retention

Post-Deletion Safety Window

Tinder retains data for a period after account deletion:

"Once the safety retention window elapses, we delete your data and only keep limited information for specified purposes"
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - Section 9 "How Long We Retain Your Data"

Specific Retention Periods

Different types of data are retained for varying periods:

"Transaction data for 10 years to comply with tax and accounting legal requirements; Credit card information for the duration the user may challenge the transaction; 'Traffic data' / logs for one year to comply with legal data retention obligations"
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - Section 9, as cited in NordVPN

Three-Month Safety Retention

Data is retained after deletion for safety purposes:

"Tinder retains your data for a three-month 'safety retention window' (one year for banned accounts)."
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in NordVPN

Biometric Data Retention

Facial geometry data from Photo Verification has specific retention rules:

"Your facial geometry data is retained for the lifetime of your account, and is deleted from systems within 30 days after the closure of your account."
Source: Tinder Help Center - Photo Verification

☑ User Control and Consent

User Rights Statement

Tinder states their commitment to user control:

"We want you to be in control of your information, so we want to remind you of the following options and tools available to you..."
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - Section 8 "Your Rights"

Plain Language Commitment

Tinder states they aim for readable policies:

"we're doing our best to write our Privacy Policy and related documents in plain language. We actually want you to read our policies and understand our privacy practices!"
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in DPAS

Consent Withdrawal Options

Users can withdraw certain consents through settings:

"In some cases, you may withdraw your consent by adapting your settings (for instance in relation to the collection of our precise geolocation) or by deleting your content."
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in privacy analyses

Download Your Data

Users can request a copy of their personal data:

"To request a copy of your personal data, please visit Tinder's Manage My Account Tool, securely sign into your account, click on Download My Data, and enter your email address."
Source: Tinder Help Center - How do I request a copy of my personal data?

🔒 Security Measures

Security Disclaimer

Tinder's policy explicitly disclaims guaranteed security:

"we do not promise, and you should not expect, that your personal information will always remain secure"
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in Threatpost and Diggit Magazine

Automated Moderation

Tinder uses automated systems for safety and moderation:

"Tinder uses automated decision-making and profiling as part of moderation efforts (for example, removing bots), as well as to promote the safety and security of users."
Source: Tinder Privacy FAQs

🌎 GDPR/CCPA Compliance

EU/UK User Rights

Tinder provides specific rights for European users:

"If you are a Tinder user located in the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the UK, you may contact Tinder's Data Protection Officer ('DPO') directly by postal mail at the address listed in Section 12 of Tinder's Privacy Policy"
Source: Tinder Privacy FAQs

Privacy Policy Sections

Tinder's policy structure for user rights:

"To learn more about how Tinder processes personal data and your rights, you can see their Privacy Policy (Section 4 - 'How We Use Data' and Section 8 - 'Your Rights')."
Source: Tinder Privacy FAQs

Tinder's Statement on Data Sales

Tinder's position on selling personal information:

"We do not 'sell' or 'share' your personal information so no opt out choice is necessary. This means that we do not sell, share, rent, release, disclose, disseminate, make available, transfer, or otherwise communicate in any way your personal information to another company for monetary or other valuable consideration or for cross-context behavioral advertising."
Source: Tinder Privacy Policy - as cited in Mozilla Foundation

Compare With Other Dating Apps

Bumble
Review
Hinge
Review
View All
→