App Stores Pull Meet24 and Meet4U Dating Apps For FTC Violations

Three dating apps called Meet24, FastMeet, and Meet4U were pulled from the Google Play Store and the Apple Apps Store for FTC violations. The FTC states that the apps were allowing children under the age of thirteen to use the apps without parental consent, which violates the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

All three of these apps are created by Ukraine-based Wildec LLC and are promoted as dating apps with a Mature 17+ rating.  According to the descriptions of these apps, they are designed to meet singles, chat with them online, and see who is nearby.

Between the three apps, they have been installed over 11 million times, with Meet24 and Meet4U having 5,000,000+ installs each and FastMeet having 1,000,000+ installs.

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires companies that collect personal information from children under the age of 13 to first get parental consent and post clear and understandable privacy policies.

According to the FTC, after reviewing the Meet24, FastMeet, and Meet4U apps they found children under the age of 13 who were using the app even after they stated that their age was 12. Due to this, it is the FTC's belief that these apps were knowingly allowing children under the age of 13 to register and use their apps without parental consent. 

Even worse, the FTC stated that several individuals who allegedly used the app to contact or attempt to contact minors are under criminal investigation.

"The Wildec apps collect users’ birthdates, email addresses, photographs, and real-time location data," stated the FTC's announcement. "While the three apps claimed in their privacy policies to prohibit users under the age of 13, the apps failed to block users who indicated they were under 13 from using the apps and from being contacted by other users of the apps, according to the FTC’s warning letter. In its review of the apps, FTC staff found users who indicated they were as young as 12. The letter also noted that allowing adult users to communicate with children poses a serious health and safety risk. Several individuals have reportedly faced criminal charges for allegedly contacting or attempting to contact minors using Wildec’s apps, the letter added."

The FTC has sent a letter to Wildec LLC and told them that they are required to follow COPPA guidelines and remove any personal information associated with children under the age of 13. Furthermore, they are required to seek parental consent in the future if allowing children under the age of 13 to use their apps.

As a precaution, the FTC issued an Parental Advisory stating that parents should look for and remove these apps if found as they provide detailed real-time location data, which can be used by child predators.