Researchers from Belgian university KU Leuven have revealed in a recent study that they successfully identified the precise location of users on certain popular dating apps. Their findings were detailed in a study titled “Swipe Left for Identity Theft.”
The researchers were able to pinpoint the locations of users on six out of 15 location-based dating apps, which are designed to connect users with others nearby.
Through the use of trilateration, the researchers could establish a user’s location by forming a triangle or circle around them and calculating distances.
The study specifically highlighted apps like Badoo, Grindr, happn, Bumble, Hinge, and Hilly as platforms where users’ exact locations could be identified.
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These apps heavily rely on GPS data to connect users in close proximity, but the researchers warned that such data is vulnerable to leaks.
The researchers underscored the potential dangers of exposing one’s location on these apps, emphasizing the risks of physical harm such as stalking, assaults, and even murder. They urged app providers to prioritize user data protection to prevent any breaches.
While apps like Tinder, POF, and OKCupid did not allow the researchers to determine exact locations, they could still pose risks by exposing other sensitive information like health and race.
“The apps’ privacy policies often overlook these privacy risks, putting the onus on users to safeguard their personal data,” the researchers stated. “We hope that raising awareness on these issues will prompt app providers to reassess their data collection practices, secure their APIs against leaks, avoid location inference, and empower users to control their data and privacy.”
