Bumble Collection and Sharing of User Information Class Action

Bumble, the dating app, collects many kinds of information from users—including some that they may not be aware it’s collecting. This class action brings suit against Bumble, Inc. and its asset Buzz Holdings, LP, alleging that they collect private information on users, including biometric information, and share it with other parties without their consent. The complaint also alleges that Bumble experienced a data breach in March 2020 but never informed the victims.

The Nationwide Class for this action is all US residents who registered for or used the Bumble app during the applicable statute of limitations period. A California Subclass has also been defined, for those in the above class who are residents of California.

Bumble was started as a dating app that empowered women. The complaint alleges, “For a man to be able to contact a woman, she must first have shown interest in him, adding a layer of privacy safety that other dating services lack.” It adds that “the app is premised on safety and allowing users to control communications and protect their privacy. Bumble touts the app as part of a movement to create a [safer, kinder,] and [more] accountable internet.”

But the complaint alleges that the company undercuts this: “Unbeknownst to its users, however, [Bumble] use[s] automated software, proprietary algorithms, AI, facial recognition, and other technologies to commercially profit from” users’ information.

The Bumble companies gather information in a number of ways. To begin with, they have information provided by users, such as name, mobile number, gender identity, sexual preference, and login information for social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram. Users also provide personal information useful for dating, such as age, education, smoking and drinking preferences, political preferences, and religious beliefs.

Bumble then collects device information, the complaint alleges, such as unique device identifier, model, operating system, and MAC address. Users who are paying for Bumble services also provide keep payment information. The company also collects “data concerning its users’ geolocation and interactions with the site…”

The complaint alleges, “Bumble harvests this extensive trove of data without the knowledge or consent of its unsuspecting users and shares the collected data with third parties, including the social media companies Facebook and Instagram.”

In addition, the complaint claims that “the app’s photo verification feature scans a user’s facial geometry before running an algorithm to verify the user, collecting the user’s biometric information.”

The complaint asserts that users did not consent to the collection, retention, or release of their information. It claims, “Because of the app’s emphasis on safety and security, Bumble customers trust that their personal information will be maintained in a secure manner and kept from unauthorized disclosure.”

Finally, the complaint alleges that Bumble experienced a data breach in March 2020, in which its user database was accessible to unauthorized persons for over eight months. The complaint alleges, “To this day, Bumble has not even notified its users that their data was left unprotected for such an extended period of time…”

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Privacy
Tags: Exposing Private Information, Sharing Personal Information with Third Parties, Your Privacy