Delete your personal data from Bumble
Rightly, Champions of Data, empowers you to easily and securely manage your personal online data.
Bumble is being dragged through a class-action in California where it is alleged the company played fast and loose with users’ personal data, biometric and behavioural information. The case, reported in January 2022, revealed that apparently Bumble harvests a very large amount of information from users without their knowledge or consent and shares the data with third parties such as Facebook and Instagram. The case makes out that Bumble was reckless and its handling of user data was “even more egregious” considering they experienced a data breach in March 2020, when someone accessed the company’s entire account database and exposed the profiles of Bumble’s roughly 100 million users. The profiles were left exposed for eight months! Also without consent, the case alleges that Bumble captured biometric information, geometrically mapping the unique contours of a person’s face.
In August 2021, it was reported that the Bumble app had a security vulnerability that meant attackers could precisely pinpoint a user’s location. Bumble did deploy a fix to the issue.
On this page we’ll explain why it’s a good idea to get your data deleted from Bumble 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 Bumble?
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 Bumble?
The easiest way to get your data deleted from companies like Bumble is to use our Rightly Protect service. In addition to picking Bumble and asking them to erase your data, you can use our service to analyse your email inbox to figure out all the companies that have your data. Then 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 Bumble responds?
Bumble 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 Bumble and then if you’re still unhappy, you can complain to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s office).
Does Bumble 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 Bumble, and you will not be able to retrieve it.
What type of data does Bumble store on me?
Bumble can collect a wide range of data from registered users:
● Names and passwords of account holders
● Email addresses
● Age
● Education data
● Smoking and drinking preferences
● Religious beliefs
● Zodiac signs
● Biometric data
● Images
● Social media accounts
● Messaging services
● Phone numbers
● Metadata on how people use the Bumble mobile app and website
● Transactional data from Bumble owned products and services
● Data on which devices are linked to which accounts
● Device model, OS and MAC address
● Geolocational data
● Bank details
● Credit and debit card details
What does Bumble do with my data?
Bumble’s main motive for building a data set around each user is to personalise the ads that show up on your feed. 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: Bumble 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 Bumble collects helps the company to perform strategic market research, communicate directly with users, and counter suspected misuse.
Why delete my data from Bumble?
Bumble has suffered a series of breach attempts and there can be little doubt that hackers will continue attempts to compromise your personal data.
If you’re not using Bumble any more, or think a fresh profile would be a good thing, you can instruct Bumble to delete all the data they have about you and so prevent it from being stolen as a result of a data breach.