Warning: *Privacy Not Included with this product
Badoo
Launched in 2006 and with over 100+ million downloads in the Google Play Store alone, Badoo is one of the most used dating apps in the world. They say it pays to be the "real, unapologetic you" on Bumble Inc.-owned Badoo. Before you get going, you might have to prove you're really you -- with a phone number and photo verification. Then, you can message other users to your heart's content, without waiting for a match first. The app's Screenshot Block feature means your conversation probably won't end up on Reddit (phew!) but also that you can't crowdsource your witty responses by sending screenshots to your friends (not that you would!). Free users get access to most of the app's features like location-based matches, messaging, and video chats. Badoo Premium lets you see who added you to their favorites, see who liked you, and more. So, how is Badoo at privacy. Well, they're actually kinda Bad. Boo! (see what we did there ;-).
What could happen if something goes wrong?
Hey, here's a good reminder from Badoo! Their privacy policy states that even though they use security measures to protect your data, "no website or Internet transmission is every completely 100% secure and even we cannot guarantee that unauthorised access, hacking, data loss or other breaches will never occur". This is a good reminder that when dating apps that ask you to give up a ton of personal information, there's no guarantee that it will be protected. On that front, Badoo does do better than most: their security and recent track record are OK (although we can't exactly say the same about the Bumble app from their parent company Bumble Inc.). Too bad they will share your personal information for marketing and might not let you delete it if you decide you want to depending on what privacy laws you live under (or don't). Bad move, Badoo!
Badoo's privacy policy is full of sensible warnings -- about limiting what you share and sharing at your own risk. Hopefully they also put those in a place where their users might see them. After all, Badoo can collect a heck of a lot of information about you. There's your birthday, gender, phone number, sexual preference, and more just to get started. Then there's any information you add to your profile, including photos. There's your messages too -- Badoo's moderators might be able to read those to make sure you're following the rules. Their privacy policy says, "We use a combination of automated systems and a team of moderators to monitor and review accounts (including photos and any other information uploaded onto user profiles) and messages for content that indicates breaches of our Terms and Conditions of Use." Gotcha. There's also your biometric information if you do photo verification, which might be required by Badoo. You can also choose to share your geolocation. Like most dating apps, you should know that just providing sensitive information (like your sexual orientation) counts as "explicitly consenting" to Badoo's processing of it. Oh! And if you login with Facebook or decide to link your Instagram account, then both apps can potentially collect more information together. That's why we recommend you don't link your dating app to social media.
That's not all. Badoo might use any of the above to create "inferences" about you that summarize your "preferences and characteristics." What for? Well, besides helping you date with confidence, Badoo can use your personal information (and those inferences) to show you ads on and off the app. Does Badoo sell your personal information? They might! Badoo has a pop-up window that says "We use services that help improve marketing campaigns. ... Under certain privacy laws, this may be considered selling or sharing your personal information with our marketing partners," and then gives you the option to opt out of the selling of your data. So, yeah, they're probably selling some of your data. Go opt out people
Besides ads, Badoo can use some of your personal information including your name, in-app activity, and photos for "research and analysis to help [them] improve the App and to test new technologies". Hmm. Badoo might also share your information with law enforcement when it's required by law or they believe "in good faith" (a legal qualifier that always raises this privacy researcher's eyebrow) that it's necessary to protect the safety of a person, address fraud, or protect their or a third party's rights or property. That language is a bit broad for our taste, since it's not totally clear when your information could be shared.
More sharing Badoo can do! They can also share your personal data with third parties when it's aggregated and "doesn't identify you directly". That's common, but we should point out that privacy researchers say it can be easy to re-identify so de-identified personal data. One last gripe with Badoo is that we can't confirm if they guarantee all users the right to delete their personal data. Boo.
What could go wrong with Badoo? Well one thing that may already be happening is that information you're sharing to meet your mate could also be used to serve you ads all over the internet. And since that can include Badoo's assumptions about you, some of those things could be untrue. Just because you say you like long walks on the beach doesn't mean you want to be flooded with ads for water shoes!
Tips to protect yourself
- Follow Badoo's Safety and Security Tips.
- Visit the app's privacy preferences at the app and opt out from personalized advertising as well as all non-essential data collection.
- Request your data be deleted once you stop using the app. Simply deleting an app from your device usually does not erase your personal data nor does close your account.
- Do not give consent to constant geolocation tracking by the app. Better provide geolocation 'only when using the app'.
- Do not share sensitive data through the app.
- Do not give access to your photos and video or camera.
- Do not log in using third-party accounts.
- Do not connect to any third party via the app, or at least make sure that a third party employs decent privacy practices.
- Do not give consent for sharing of personal data for marketing and advertising.
- Choose a strong password! You may use a password control tool like 1Password, KeePass etc.
- Do not use social media plug-ins.
- Use your device privacy controls to limit access to your personal information via app (do not give access to your camera, microphone, images, location unless necessary).
- Keep your app regularly updated.
- Limit ad tracking via your device (eg on iPhone go to Privacy -> Advertising -> Limit ad tracking) and biggest ad networks (for Google, go to Google account and turn off ad personalization).
- When starting a sign-up, do not agree to tracking of your data if possible.
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: N/A
App: Yes
Microphone
Device: N/A
App: Yes
Tracks location
Device: N/A
App: Yes
What can be used to sign up?
Yes
Phone
Yes
Third-party account
Yes
Facebook account, Google account or Apple ID sign-ups available
What data does the company collect?
Personal
Name, username, email address, mobile number, gender identity, date, time, and location of birth, sexual preference, photographs, location; and login information for social media accounts that you connect to your Bumble Account (this could include, for example, your Facebook and Instagram accounts); location; financial information; unique device identifier, device model, and operating system
Body related
Photos and videos
Social
Your device’s address book
How does the company use this data?
How can you control your data?
What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?
No known data breaches discovered in the last three years. However, Badoo's parent company Bumble Group's app Bumble has had a number of concerning privacy and security issues.
Child Privacy Information
Can this product be used offline?
User-friendly privacy information?
The privacy policy language is relatively user-friendly. However, their privacy policy isn't totally clear on how they are sharing your data.
Links to privacy information
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Strong password
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
Badoo runs a bug bounty program.
Privacy policy
"Bumble Inc. has launched Deception Detector™, harnessing artificial intelligence (A.I.) to weed out fake, spam, or scam profiles on our app. In our tests so far, our Deception Detector™ machine learning model has demonstrated 99.5% precision in identifying these catfish and other fakers. Profiles deemed likely to be a scam by Deception Detector™ will have to go through a verification process to ensure they’re authentic, or could be removed from Badoo altogether."
Is this AI untrustworthy?
What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?
Is the company transparent about how the AI works?
Does the user have control over the AI features?
Dive Deeper
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Another Day, Another Hack: User Accounts of Dating Site BadooMotherboard
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Badoo Uses Facial Recognition to Match You With Celeb LookalikesPC Magazine
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This Dating App’s Lookalikes Feature Is Actually Super CreepyGizmodo
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Love in the time of algorithms: would you let artificial intelligence choose your partner?The Conversation
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Dating Apps Will Be Better Matchmakers Thanks to AI, but will They Be Safer?Hacker Moon
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How Much Personal Data Can Dating Apps Access From Your Smartphone?Observer
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