Ireland Data Protection Commission Plans GDPR Fines for Tinder

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) is preparing to fine Tinder between €8 million and €11 million over alleged breaches of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), following a six-year investigation into the dating platform’s handling of user data.

The DPC opened its investigation in 2020, focusing on Tinder’s processes for responding to users’ requests to access or delete their personal information, as well as its data retention practices. The probe concerns MTCH Technology Services, an Ireland-based subsidiary of Tinder owner Match Group.

According to the DPC, the investigation identified concerns surrounding Tinder’s ongoing processing of personal data, the transparency of those activities and the company’s compliance with data-subject rights.

The regulator issued a preliminary draft decision in January 2024. Match Group responded two months later, disputing the findings and maintaining that it had strong grounds to challenge any adverse decision.

The company was informed by the DPC on July 9, 2026, that the regulator intended to impose a fine in the range of €8 million to €11 million. Match Group has since recorded a $9.1 million provision in its financial statements for the quarter ended June 30.

The proposed penalty is substantially below the maximum exposure Match Group had previously disclosed to investors. The company had warned in 2024 that the investigation could result in a fine of up to $60 million.

Match Group said it intends to “vigorously” defend the claims. The DPC is expected to finalise its decision within the next few weeks, meaning the proposed amount could still change.