OKCupid Is Evil, Too

Online dating giant OKCupid reported today on unethical experiments they have conducted on their unknowing customers.

In fact, Christian Rudder boasted, “We Experiment On Human Beings!“, not even pretending to be sorry for this improper and exploitative behavior.

He claimed, “if you use the Internet, you’re the subject of hundreds of experiments at any given time, on every site. That’s how websites work.”

No.  That is how web businesses work.  “Websites” can be designed lots of ways, there is no need to conduct deceptive and undisclosed research on the users.

I note that the report did not indicate any academic connections, nor has it been published in any independently reviewed journal.  So, in addition to violating norms for research methodology, it is unverified and not subject to critical analysis.  Second rate work, for sure.

By the way, neither the methods nor data seem to be available to other researchers.

As I have pointed out before, this behavior would not be tolerated in any legitimate research institution.  Furthermore, the lack of open review (before and after the fact) means that this wouldn’t be accepted for an undergraduate project, let alone as legitimate scholarly work.

This is not acceptable behavior, and the arrogant attitude and lack of transparency only makes it worse.

Stop exploiting and abusing the trust of your users.

I note that anyone reading this can only think, “I can’t believe anything I see at OKCupid.  They manipulated everything they show me.”  Who would want to use this service, knowing this truth?

Bad move, OKCupid, very bad move.