Match Group is expanding a partnership with background check service Garboa nonprofit female-and survivor-founded organization, bringing the free safety feature to its checks app, Match, and the single parent dating app, Stir, after initially launching dating rape victim Tinder. The new feature allows dating checks users to easily access public information about arrests, convictions, and sex offender registry records.
If a user finds out their would-be date has a history of violence, they can report the account for removal and block the user.
What is an online background check?
The with for increased protections follows numerous reports over the years that highlighted the potential safety issues associated with online dating, including the risk of sexual assaults, stalking, and violence. And while everyone should take safety precautions when dating online, it is even more necessary for people with children to weigh the risks of bringing a stranger they met online into their lives. Tinder rolls out in-app access to background checks, powered by nonprofit Garbo.
If you are messaging someone and arranging to meet up with them, a box will pop up asking if you want to run a background check. Premium users will receive four free searches, whereas free subscribers will get two background searches.
Why should I use background checks for online dating?
According to Match Group, more of its U. The company has yet to say when and where these updates will be made. To run a search on a potential date, users need to supply the name of the person and phone number. If Garbo is still unable to pull up any relevant public records, the user may have to provide the age, location and other details. Garbo and Match are separate entities, so sites information about searches is shared between the companies.
Match Group has been accused of overlooking screening measures background its services in the past. Ina report by ProPublica and Columbia Journalism Investigations addressed dating issue of sexual predators on Match-owned dating apps. In JanuaryRep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, launched an investigation into some of the largest dating platforms following reports that underage users were on the apps, companies were selling or sharing personal data and free dating apps permit registered sex background to use them.
Then earlier this year, the company introduced Garbo-powered background checks to Sitesits flagship dating app. Match Group makes seven-figure investment in background check nonprofit Garbo. What is Apple Intelligence, when is it coming and who will get it? Brian Heater.
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Match expands background checks to two more dating apps
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