Warning: *Privacy Not Included with this product
Lovoo, the app with a heart, was one of Germany's first apps back in 2011. Today, it's popular in Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, and Italy too. The app lets users choose from a bunch of different ways to connect once you set up a profile. The app does have your run-of-the-mill swiping, of course. But there's also match recommendations called CherryPicks, an explore page that shows users near you, and something you don't see every day: live speed dating! Lovoo is free to join but offers lots of benefits to premium users, like an ad-free experience, incognito mode, unlimited swipes, and more. If you want to date, flirt, make new friends, or fall in love, Lovoo says they're here to guide you. Is Lovoo guidance just what you need? Who knows! It's hard to argue with a reported 35 million matches per month.
What could happen if something goes wrong?
It turns out, the app with a heart, Lovoo, is also the app without a privacy policy. Yikes! We did find one in German. And that's cool for people who understand German, but the app is available for download in areas where most of the population doesn't -- like the United States, Canada, and the UK. Also, their website and Google Play and App Store content is available in English, so it's more than a little worrisome that the privacy policy didn't make the cut. No privacy policy? No privacy promises! So we're worried Lovoo could come with *Privacy Not Included.
It's very bad when an app that can collect a whole bunch of detailed personal information about its users (like most dating apps do) makes no effort to let them know how that information will be handled. The fact that it's missing is a red flag all on its own but it leaves us without answers to even basic privacy questions. Like what information does the app collect in the first place? Ugh. We're also curious to check in on whether Lovoo has made any changes to address claims of deceptive behavior and safety concerns about location-tracking, from way back in 2016 and 2019.
All in all, we're speechless when it comes to Lovoo and what could go wrong. What we can say is that you should stay far, far away from a dating app that doesn't take the time to put the privacy policy in the same language they allow you to download the app. Oh and while you're here, you should beware of romance scams if you're looking for love online. They're a risk not just with Lovoo, but all dating apps.
Tips to protect yourself
- 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 advertisement.
- 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).
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
Google, Apple, Facebook, Snapchat sign-up available
What data does the company collect?
Personal
We found no English-language privacy policy. However, the app is available in the English speaking countries like the US, Canada, and UK.
Body related
We found no English-language privacy policy. However, the app is available in the English speaking countries like the US, Canada, and UK.
Social
We found no English-language privacy policy. However, the app is available in the English speaking countries like the US, Canada, and UK.
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.
Child Privacy Information
Can this product be used offline?
User-friendly privacy information?
We found no English-language privacy policy. However, the app is available in the English speaking countries like the US, Canada, and UK.
Links to privacy information
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Lovoo employs TLS encryption in transit, as well as encryption at rest.
Strong password
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
"We appreciate your work by paying a generous bug bounty (private LOVOO bug bounty) for all reports that follow our rules and thank you for making LOVOO safer!"
Privacy policy
We found no English-language privacy policy. However, the app is available in the English speaking countries like the US, Canada, and UK.
Does the product use AI?
Lovoo uses Machine Learning algorithms to fights spam.
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?
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Comments
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