The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is pursuing legal action against OkCupid and its parent company, Match Group Americas, for allegedly misleading users regarding the sharing of their personal information. The FTC claims that OkCupid shared sensitive user data, including photos and location information, with an unrelated third party, contrary to its stated privacy policies.

According to the FTC's complaint, OkCupid misrepresented its privacy practices by stating it would not share personal information without user consent. However, the agency alleges that OkCupid provided access to nearly three million user photos and other data to a third party that had no formal business relationship with the dating app.

The FTC's investigation revealed that OkCupid's founders had financial ties to the third party, which requested large datasets of user information. The complaint also highlights that OkCupid and Match Group attempted to conceal their actions and obstruct the FTC's investigation, denying involvement when media reports surfaced about the data sharing.

As part of a proposed settlement, OkCupid and Match Group will be permanently prohibited from misrepresenting their data collection and sharing practices. This includes transparency about how they collect, use, and protect personal information, as well as the privacy controls available to users.

The FTC emphasizes its commitment to enforcing privacy promises made by companies and will take action against those who fail to uphold these commitments. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the Commission's vote to authorize the complaint was unanimous.