Match Group controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Brivas files patent infringement lawsuit against Match Group over FaceTec liveness detection
Lawsuit filed
Nevada-based Brivas filed a patent infringement claim against Match Group in the Northern District of Texas, alleging the dating app maker used its proprietary biometric liveness detection technology without a license. The claims involve eight U.S. patents related to active liveness detection, and Brivas alleges Match Group's Face Check identity verification system, which applies FaceTec liveness detection across apps including Tinder, OKCupid, BLK and Upward, directly and indirectly violates each patent. Brivas, considered a non-practicing entity, is seeking injunctive relief, damages, attorney's fees and costs. FaceTec is not named as a defendant.
Stated objective. Brivas II inventor Beau Parry said the company is enforcing the patents "to protect our licensees and the value of that innovation"; Brivas is seeking injunctive relief, as well as damages, attorney's fees and costs.
Company response
Denial — Match Group
The FTC has misrepresented internal emails and relied on cherry-picked data to make outrageous claims and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against these claims in court.
Source excerpt
The complaint examines how FaceTec’s liveness detection works, and how the technology is applied across Match Group apps including Tinder, OKCupid, BLK and Upward.
Brivas alleges Match Group’s Face Check identity verification system directly and indirectly violates each patent.
FaceTec is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, however.
2020
Irish regulator investigates Tinder’s personal-data processing
Investigation
In 2020, Ireland’s Data Protection Commission investigated Tinder, a service operated by Match Group, over concerns regarding the processing of users’ personal data, transparency, and compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The inquiry focused on how personal data was handled and whether the required transparency obligations were met under GDPR. The investigation was initiated in response to these data-protection concerns.
Company response
Clarification — Match Group
“We are fully co-operating with the Data Protection Commission, and will continue to abide by GDPR and all applicable laws.”
Source excerpt
The regulator is also investigating Tinder after people in Ireland and elsewhere in the EU raised concerns about issues surrounding U.S. parent company Match Group’s “ongoing processing of users’ personal data” related to Tinder, transparency and compliance with GDPR.
2019
Federal Trade Commission consumer-practices lawsuit
The FTC alleged that Match used potentially fraudulent communications to encourage non-subscribers to pay, made misleading promises about guarantees, inadequately handled disputed charges, and complicated subscription cancellation. Match Group disputed the allegations and argued that the regulator relied on selective evidence.
2019
Appeals court rejects IAC's bid to dismiss Tinder founders' lawsuit
Ruling
A New York state appeals court rejected IAC's bid to dismiss a $2 billion lawsuit by Tinder founders, executives, and former employees. The plaintiffs alleged that the companies undervalued the dating app to avoid paying them billions of dollars; the ruling allowed them to pursue their claims.
Source excerpt
The Appellate Division in Manhattan said Tinder co-founder Sean Rad and the other five plaintiffs, who also sued IAC’s Match Group Inc unit, were not bound under their stock options agreements to what they considered artificially low valuations of their stakes.
A New York state appeals court on Tuesday rejected IAC/InterActiveCorp’s bid to dismiss a $2 billion lawsuit by a group of Tinder founders, executives and early employees who said it undervalued the dating app to avoid paying them billions of dollars.
2018
Tinder valuation and executive-conduct litigation
Former Tinder chief executive Sean Rad sued Match Group and IAC over the alleged undervaluation of Tinder and related stock-option claims. The dispute also included allegations concerning former executive Greg Blatt's conduct, which the company characterized as meritless. Blatt later brought a defamation action against Rad and another former Tinder figure.