Delete your personal data from Tinder
Rightly, Champions of Data, empowers you to easily and securely manage your personal online data.
In 2020, 70,000 photos of female Tinder users were found online, shared by an online cybercrime forum. The images may have been used to create fake accounts and also used in ‘catfishing’ attempts. This wasn’t the first time Tinder has suffered a hack of its user data. We also know that hackers have got around security systems and have been able to ‘scrape’ Tinder accounts, collecting data en masse.
On this page we’ll explain why it’s a good idea to get your data deleted from Tinder and how to go about it. Or if you just want to get started, click the Start Now button which will take you directly to our Rightly Protect service, enabling you to find out who has your data and get it deleted, quickly and for free.
Can I delete my data from Tinder?
Yes you can! You have the right to ask any company to delete all the data they hold on you and they have to comply within 30 days. This right flows from GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) legislation and if companies don’t comply without a valid reason, they can be in trouble.
How do I delete data from Tinder?
The easiest way to get your data deleted from companies like Tinder is to use our Rightly Protect service. In addition to picking Tinder and asking them to erase your data, you can use Rightly Protect to analyse your email inbox to figure out all the companies that have your data. With Rightly Protect you can ask all of them to delete the data they hold on you in one click. Because many companies have your data, even companies you’ve never heard of, and it often runs into hundreds or even thousands of organisations putting your data at risk.
How long until Tinder responds?
Tinder should reply within one calendar month. If they have genuine reasons that they need extra time to consider your request, they can take up to an extra two months - but they should let you know within one month that they need more time and the reasons why. If you’re unhappy with how they respond, you can make a complaint to Tinder and then if you’re still unhappy, you can complain to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s office).
Does Tinder actually delete your data?
Yes, it’s a legal requirement. After one calendar month has passed since your account deletion request, your account and all of your information will be permanently erased by Tinder, and you will not be able to retrieve it.
What type of data does Tinder store on me?
Tinder can collect a wide range of data from registered users:
● Names and passwords
● Captured content, such as at least two ID photos
● Your phone number or Google or Apple account
● Your first name
● Your date of birth
● Your sexual orientation
● Metadata on how people use the Tinder mobile app
● Facial recognition data
● Data on which devices are linked to which accounts
● Geolocational data
● Bank details
● Credit and debit card details
And nearly all dating apps encourage you to share more information, from your place of work to your favourite hobbies to your ethnicity. They also monitor any activity in their app, including swipes and conversations.
What does Tinder do with my data?
Tinder’s main motive for building a data set around each user is to personalise the ads that show up on your device. Ad targeting changes are made based on a lot of different data: your personal account info, your usage patterns, your location, and more.
But it’s not just your data that shapes your ad feed: Tinder compiles the same kinds of data from a variety of users and uses it to optimise when and where it shows you certain ads on other platforms. The additional data that Tinder collects helps the company to perform strategic market research, communicate directly with users, and counter suspected misuse.
Why delete my data from Tinder?
Tinder launched in 2012, yet it has already suffered several data breaches and has been caught improperly sharing user data. This is actually common among dating apps, so it’s important to keep in mind what personal data you divulge and whether you can risk leaving it out there, even when you no longer use the service.
If you’re not using Tinder any more, or think a fresh profile would be a good thing, you can instruct Tinder to delete all the data they have about you and so prevent it from being stolen as a result of a data breach.