Christian Mingle

Warning: *Privacy Not Included with this product

Christian Mingle

Review date: March 15, 2024

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Mozilla says

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People voted: Super creepy

Founded in 2001, this dating app is targeted at Christians looking for other Christians to date. Free to sign up and browse profiles, users must have a subscription to message other users. With around 15 million users worldwide, the app allows users to target specific Christian denominations such as Catholic, Baptist, or Pentecostal, as well as ethnicity as part of their search. Singles can also sort their matches by Christian Mingle's compatibility score or try Tinder-esque swiping with the LookBook feature. Up until 2016, gays and lesbians weren't welcome on the app as searches were limited to "man seeking woman" or "woman seeking man." A non-discrimination lawsuit forced Christian Mingle to add in the "man seeking man" and "woman seeing woman" options although you can't distinguish between gay and lesbian and straight people within the app.

What could happen if something goes wrong?

Here's an odd little victory: the ChristianMingle app no longer demands access to your phone's flashlight! Yep, that is something we noticed about the app's permissions when we first reviewed it in 2021. We're sure there's a joke in here somewhere about seeing the light. We'll refrain from making it. But baby steps aside, ChristianMingle (still) comes with *Privacy Not Included.

ChristianMingle sure can collect a lot of information about its users. First there's contact information, like your name, email, address, and phone number. Then there's what counts as "sensitive information" like -- excuse me? -- your "sexual preferences and experiences". It's not unheard of for sex-related data to make its way into privacy policies but "experiences"? That is a new one for us. There's also your race, ethnicity, political affiliation, religious affiliation, union memberships, biometric information, videos, "physical characteristics" and a lot more. Basically, all the information you give about yourself while you're on the app can be collected by ChristianMingle, including whatever you add to your profile or send in messages. And when ChristianMingle collects your photos and videos, they can collect extra information from the files (called metadata) -- like the time the photo was taken, where, and what day. They can also scan your content with third party services to "help identify your interests and activities—such as if your photo includes pets, sports or trips—and to help [them] provide better matches for you." Ruh-roh! Be sure to get your pup's consent before uploading that adorable selfie album then.

On top of all that, there's some information collected automatically from your device. Mostly that's information about your device, but can include personal information like your IP address and even other apps that you've downloaded. Oh, and location data. Did we mention everything you do on ChristianMingle? That's collected too. My goodness, there is more. ChristianMingle can collect information about you from other sources -- like other people, social media, and affiliates. And they can use your personal information to make assumptions about you, called inferences. ChristianMingle's privacy policy also says users can import their address book and can be notified when their contacts sign up for the services. That might be awkward if your auntie is on ChristianMingle, uploads her address book, and then gets a notification that you've joined after you told her you don't want to be set up because you're definitely not looking to date right now.

It's a LOT of information! The privacy policy even says that "[w]here you do not provide the personal data detailed in this Policy, we may not be able to provide you with the Services." OK so at least some of the time, giving up all that information isn't exactly "optional" either. Dang, what is it all for? Well, aside from helping you find God-Centered Love, ChristianMingle can use personal information such as your gender, age, and "usage data" to "deliver relevant website content and advertisements to you" and to measure their effectiveness. That's not great. They can also share your personal information with their affiliates -- which includes all those other apps owned by the app's parent company like Jdate, Elite Singles, and Zoosk -- as well as ad and social networks.

When ChrstianMingle isn't giving your data away, we're worried it could be breached or hacked -- especially since we can't determine if they meet our Minimum Security Standards. Whether the app encrypts your personal data, requires strong passwords, or manages security vulnerabilities is a mystery to us. Yikes! That all makes it extra annoying that not all users are guaranteed the right to delete their personal data. So what could go wrong with ChristianMingle? Well, since your usage data could be used for targeted ads and profiling, your swiping habits could be used to make assumptions about you and then try to sell you stuff based on that. And just because you swipe right in the wee hours doesn't mean you're desperately lonely and definitely doesn't mean you want to buy one of those human-shaped pillows for company.

Tips to protect yourself

- Follow Christian Mingle's Safety 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.

  • mobile

Can it snoop on me? information

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?

Facebook and Apple sign-up is available

What data does the company collect?

How does the company use this data?

We ding this product because it shares personal data for advertising purposes, also we can not confirm if it sells data of users.

Privacy policy

"Our Services allow you to share information about yourself with other individuals and other companies, including other users and potential users of the Services or other products or services offered by us and third-party Social Networking Sites. Consider your own privacy and personal safety when sharing your information with anyone, including information you share through your profile, as profiles include basic information that was provided at registration and information provided through a Social Networking Site and may include other information added by you or your friends (for example, your religion, ethnicity and physical characteristics), as well as information about your use of the Service (for example, whether you were recently logged in to our platform)."

"We also collect, use and share aggregated, deidentified and/or anonymous data (“Aggregated Data”) for any purpose. Examples include aggregated statistical or demographic data or data provided in hashed, non-human readable form. For example, we may aggregate your usage data on how you use the Services (“Usage Data”) to calculate the percentage of users accessing a specific website feature. Aggregated Data may be derived from your personal data but does not directly or indirectly identify you and therefore does not amount to personal data."

"If you log in to your account with us using multiple devices (for instance, your phone and laptop), we will link your devices to your account. This allows us to provide a seamless user experience to you. We also work with third parties to employ technologies, including the application of statistical modelling tools, which attempt to recognize you across multiple devices so that we understand how you use our Service across various devices, to ensure the safety and security of your data and the Company Services, to show you targeted advertising (with your consent) tailored to your interests and experience, and to measure the performance of advertising campaigns."

"Generally, we will use your personal data in the following circumstances:

To process your registration on our services, including verifying your information to ensure its accuracy and validity.
To fulfill your purchases (e.g., to process credit card payments in connection with your transaction) and fulfill your requests (e.g., to provide you with information that you request).
To personalize your experience and customize content on our Services relevant to your interests, including but not limited to targeted offers and ads through our website, email, social media channels, third-party sites or on other devices you may use.
To operate, maintain and provide to you the features and functionality of the Services.
To send you important information regarding the Services, such as certain changes to our terms, conditions, policies and/or other administrative information. Because this information may be material to your use of the services, you may not opt out of receiving such communications.
To inform you of products, programs, services, and promotions that we believe may be of interest to you, including, without limitation, adding you to our email/mailing lists and permitting you to participate in sweepstakes, contests and similar promotions.
To help maintain the safety, security and integrity of our service, technology assets and business.
For our internal business purposes, such as data analysis, customer research, audits, fraud prevention, developing new products and/or features, enhancing the Services, improving our services, identifying usage trends and determining the effectiveness of our promotional campaigns, including to inform our machine learning for purposes such as user engagement.
Where we need to perform the contract we are about to enter into or have entered into with you for the Services.
Where you have given consent for us to use your personal data and your sensitive personal data to provide certain Services (you may withdraw your consent for some uses of the data at any time by contacting us at the information provided below).
Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.
Where we need to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation, such as to respond to law enforcement requests and as required by applicable law, court order or governmental regulations and enforce our corporate reporting obligations and our Terms of Use here, or to comply with applicable laws.
For purposes disclosed at the time you provide your personal data or as otherwise set forth in this Policy."

Christian Mingle uses the following data for the purpose of "To deliver relevant website content and advertisements to you and measure or understand the effectiveness of the advertising we serve to you":
"(a) Device ID
(b) IP Address
(c) Location (at country, state, city, or postal code level)
(d) Gender
(e) Age
(f) Technical Data such as OS version, hardware type, software type.
(g) Cookies, pixels, or advertising tags
(h) Usage Data"

"Where you have interacted with us, we will send you marketing communications from time to time. If you do not want to receive such marketing communications, you have the opportunity to inform us by selecting certain boxes when we collect your personal data.
We strive to provide you with choices regarding certain personal data uses, particularly around marketing and advertising. You may choose to opt out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time by going into your account settings. You may also select the “unsubscribe” link in the communication we send to you.
When you receive communications from us, including marketing communications, we may share your personal data with third party companies who help us conduct marketing activities. For example, we may use a third party to help us send email messages to you and help us understand how you have interacted with that email."

"We may also share your personal data with the parties set out below for the purposes in the table above.

With our parent company, Spark Networks SE and other affiliates within the Company Group of companies <...>
Services Providers, consultants and other vendors <...>, customer support service providers, marketing outreach and analytics service providers, safety check providers, payment providers, cybersecurity partners, anti-fraud analytics companies, payment providers, chargeback representation services and similar partners.
Advertising networks and technology companies, including Google, Facebook and Twitter, and companies that measure advertising performance and attribution. We share personal data with advertising networks or permit these networks to collect information from you directly on our websites to facilitate online advertising, such as search engines and social network advertising providers, to serve targeted ads to you or to groups of other users who share similar traits, such as likely commercial interests and demographics, on third-party platforms. For more information, including how to opt out of interest-based advertising, please read our Cookie Policy.
<...>"

"We may also share Aggregated Data with third parties."

CCPA disclosure

"We collect personal information about you from one or more of the following categories of sources:

Directly from you
Indirectly from you
Our business partners and affiliates (including service providers)
Third parties you direct to share information with us, such as third-party social networks
Social network services
Company Group
Your browser or device
Generated or derived from other personal information"

"Purposes for collecting personal information. We collect personal information from and about you for a variety of purposes. For example, we use personal information to fulfill your requests, process your transactions and provide our Services to you; to communicate with you; for marketing and advertising purposes; to monitor, improve, and develop our products and Services; and to protect the security and integrity of our business, comply with legal requirements and obligations; for our business and operational purposes; and as otherwise permitted or required by law."

"Disclosure of personal information. We share personal information with a variety of third parties for business purposes. The categories of third parties to whom we disclose your personal information for a business purpose include: (i) other companies owned or controlled by our parent company, Spark Networks SE, and other affiliates within the Company Group of companies; (ii) our service providers and advisors; (iii) security providers; (iv) ad networks and advertising partners; (v) analytics providers; (vi) social networks; (vii) other Company users; and (viii) third parties at your request. To learn more about how we disclose personal information to third parties, please refer to the Disclosures of Your Personal Data section of the Privacy Policy.

<...>

We do not “sell” personal information, as that term is defined based on our understanding of the CCPA and its implementing regulations. Specifically, we do not sell personal information, such as your name, email, or other information that identifies you personally, to third parties for monetary or other valuable consideration. If we exchange personal information with third party partners for monetary or other valuable consideration in the future, we will take steps to avoid activities that could be considered a “sale” of California consumer personal information, such as by seeking consent or by excluding California residents from such promotions or activities.

However, as is common practice among companies that operate online, we permit third party advertising networks, social media companies and other third party businesses to collect personal information (including Internet/Network Information, Commercial Information, and Inferences) directly from your browser or device through cookies or tracking technologies when you visit or interact with our websites, use our apps or otherwise engage with us. These third parties use this information for the purposes of serving ads that are more relevant, for ad campaign measurement and analytics, and for fraud detection and reporting and they may sell that information to other businesses for advertising and other purposes."

How can you control your data?

We cannot confirm if all users regardless of location can get their data be deleted.

Privacy policy

"If you want to opt out of receiving online interest-based advertisements on mobile apps, please follow the instructions at http://www.aboutads.info/appchoices."

"As a California resident, you may be able to request to exercise the following rights:

<...>
The Right to Request Deletion of personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
The Right to Opt Out of Personal Information Sales to third parties."

What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?

Average

No known data breaches discovered in the last three years.

Child Privacy Information

"We restrict the use of our Services to individuals age 18 and above. We do not intentionally collect or maintain personal data from children under the age of 16. If you become aware that personal data about a person under 16 has been provided to us, please immediately contact us using the details below."

Can this product be used offline?

No

User-friendly privacy information?

No

Links to privacy information

Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards? information

Unknown

Encryption

Can’t Determine

We cannot confirm encryption at rest and in transit for this app.

Strong password

Can’t Determine

Unfortunately, the app had a bug that did not allow us to log in.

Security updates

Yes

Manages vulnerabilities

Can’t Determine

Privacy policy

Yes

Does the product use AI? information

Can’t Determine

Is this AI untrustworthy?

Can’t Determine

What kind of decisions does the AI make about you or for you?

Is the company transparent about how the AI works?

Can’t Determine

Does the user have control over the AI features?

Can’t Determine

*Privacy Not Included

Dive Deeper

  • Dating sites Jdate and Christian Mingle to pay restitution to customers
    LA Times Link opens in a new tab
  • Religious apps with sinful permissions requests are more common than you think
    CNET Link opens in a new tab
  • Christian Mingle must let LGBT singles use dating site after losing court battle
    CBC Link opens in a new tab

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