FAQ mandatory liveness check

Why is Tinder requiring a face scan?

Users are required to complete a biometric Face Check™ scan with a video selfie to help make Tinder a more authentic place. When you take a video selfie, your facial geometry, which may be considered “biometric information” in some places, will be used and stored to check against your profile photos, reduce fraud and help ensure that no other profile is using your likeness. After successfully completing your video selfie and uploading a clear face photo that matches the face in your video selfie, a Photo Verified badge will automatically appear on your profile.

How does this process work?

This process is as simple as taking a quick video selfie. We use facial scanning technology to check that the video was taken of a real, live person, and that it was not digitally altered or manipulated. This technology also detects your face in your video selfie and your profile photos, and uses your facial geometry (“FaceMap”) to generate a unique number (“FaceVector”).

The data generated and processed by this feature (“Verification Data”) is retained for the purposes set out below in “How is my Verification Data used?”

How is my Verification Data used?

Your video selfie is assessed to ensure that you are a real person and is then promptly deleted. Your FaceMap is used to help check whether the person in your video selfie appears to be the same person as in your profile photos, and your FaceVector is compared to FaceVectors for other accounts to help ensure that your likeness is not being used by any other profile.

You may also opt to use your Verification Data to access additional optional features that also use the same information.

The original is not kept or added to your profile, but 2 audit images from your video selfie are kept for the purposes of managing this feature and confirming your likeness.

Verification Data may also be used when necessary to troubleshoot and ensure the smooth operation of our Face Check feature, or when necessary to ensure the safety and security of our service and users to the extent permitted by applicable law.

If you sign up for Tinder using your previous credentials within 30 days of deleting your account, there is no need to complete Face Check again. Instead, your Verification Data will be used to confirm your Face Check status, check for duplicate accounts, and verify your new profile photos, as explained throughout this FAQ. More information about how to restore your profile can be found here.

What will you keep after this process is complete?

Your Verification Data is retained so that profile photos can be continually checked as you change and update your photos over time, as well as to help ensure that other accounts are not using your likeness. To do so, FaceMaps and FaceVectors are retained for the lifetime of an account and are deleted from our systems within 30 days of account closure, unless continued retention is necessary to comply with an applicable legal obligation or to ensure the safety and security of our service and users to the extent permitted by applicable law.

As noted above, the original video selfie is not retained or added to your profile, but 2 audit images from your video selfie will be kept. Audit images and the results of the Photo Verification process (i.e., successful or not), as well as your age estimate are saved for 90 days after your account is closed (or 1 year if the account is banned).

Also, if your profile is restored within 30 days of deleting your account, the Verification Data will be retained and used for your new account as described throughout this FAQ.

Will third parties receive my data?

Verification Data is only shared with Tinder’s service providers when necessary to manage, troubleshoot or ensure the smooth operation of our Face Check feature. Verification Data is stored securely on Tinder’s AWS servers.

Tinder is part of the Match Group family of businesses, and Verification Data may be shared between our Affiliates, solely to the extent permitted by applicable law, to make all Match Group services safer (e.g. identifying and banning violating accounts).

US Residents: We do not “sell” or “share” Verification Data, as such terms may be defined by applicable privacy law in your state.

How do I delete my Verification Data?

Your Verification Data can be deleted by deleting your Tinder account through the app’s settings page or the account portal. Data is then deleted as described above and in accordance with Tinder’s Privacy Policy. To learn more about how to delete your account, please visit Delete Your Tinder Account.

Why do I need to delete my account in order to delete my Verification Data?

If you live in a region where completing a biometric face scan for our Face Check feature is required, you cannot delete your Verification Data without deleting your account. This is a condition of being on the Tinder service.

Under what legal authority do you process my Verification Data?

This information will be processed with your consent.

This may change depending on the applicable law in your jurisdiction. In Brazil, for instance, your Verification Data is processed to support fraud prevention and to safeguard security in the identification and authentication processes for registration in electronic systems. In those cases, references to consent in the context of the sign-up process will be considered as acceptance of the Face Check process to get a Photo Verified badge rather than consent for personal data processing purposes. More about this can be found in our Privacy Policy.

How do I withdraw my consent?

In the countries where we rely on your consent, this can be withdrawn by deleting your Tinder account as described above.

How do I find more information about Tinder’s data practices, including my privacy rights?

Visit our Privacy Policy to learn more about our privacy practices, including the “Your Rights” section.

California residents may also refer to Tinder’s California Privacy Statement.

Where is Face Check required?

Tinder is rolling out Face Check on a phased basis on iOS, Android and tinder.com where local regulations permit. In some regions, Face Check may be required on tinder.com before it is required on iOS or Android. Also, please note Face Check completion may be required before using Passport™ Mode to connect with Tinder users in a region where Face Check is required.

Having trouble?

If you’re experiencing trouble with capturing your video selfie, you can exit the face scan flow and start again.

Here are some common issues:

Face isn’t featured prominently within the frame provided
Face is blocked or obscured
Lack of neutral facial expression
Video wasn’t bright and/or clear

If you experience any issues or have feedback about this process, please feel free to contact us!