An important update on our campaign against Bumble

Hello,

At Mozilla, release of a shiny new privacy policy always sparks joy.

So, when - after weeks of pressure by the Mozilla community - dating app Bumble told us they were rolling out a new, user-respecting policy, we were thrilled. Here’s why this is a great opportunity for us:

FIRST: Bumble’s privacy policies came under serious scrutiny earlier this year, following Mozilla’s research indicating that the app may be selling user data unless users actively opt-out.1 Another study, by researchers at KU Leuven university, also revealed that vulnerabilities in Bumble’s app allows stalkers to pinpoint users’ locations with terrifying accuracy.2

THEN: Mozilla supporters, alongside a community of advocacy groups and privacy watchdogs, came together to call on Bumble to make privacy the default.3Bumble felt the heat, they responded to us, saying they would release a new privacy policy in August.

NOW: It’s September. The delayed release of Bumble’s new privacy policy might be a good sign that they are listening and still working on it. But we don’t know for sure - which is why, today, we need your support for this campaign to further show Bumble just how much support there is out there for privacy.

Together, we can call on Bumble to live up to their values as an ethical alternative to other dating apps by giving its users more control over their personal data – and in turn, setting a new standard for all online dating apps to follow.

Sign Mozilla’s petition and call on Bumble to make privacy the default in their new privacy policy. The burden should not be on Bumble users to actively opt-out in order to ensure their privacy and personal data is protected.

Privacy in dating apps is far more important than being a mere convenience: it’s a shield against potential discrimination and other harm. We know that dating apps collect vast amounts of intimate details about their customers – everything from their sexual preferences to precise location. Because of this, the standards for collecting, selling, and transferring such data – and being transparent about privacy practice – must be high.

Communities seeking reproductive health care, survivors of intimate partner violence and members of the LGBTQ+ community are particularly vulnerable to devastating consequences to their livelihoods if such sensitive data from Bumble’s app is leaked.4

At Mozilla, we believe in Bumble’s potential to be a leader when it comes to privacy – and their updated “user-friendly” privacy policy is Bumble’s opportunity to set a new standard for the whole industry.

Now is the time for the Mozilla community to push Bumble to release a strong, privacy-first policy that protects its users.

Add your name to Mozilla’s petition to tell Bumble to put privacy first. If you agree that Bumble’s users deserve to have their privacy and personal data protected, then add your name now:

Thank you for everything that you do for the internet,

Reem Suleiman
US Advocacy Lead
Mozilla

More information:

1. Mozilla: Data-Hungry Dating Apps Are Worse Than Ever for Your Privacy. 23 April 2024.

2. TechCrunch: Bumble and Hinge allowed stalkers to pinpoint users’ locations down to 2 meters, researchers say. 31 July 2024.

3. Mozilla: Civil Society Open Letter Urges Bumble to Take Privacy Seriously. August 2024.

4. Same as above