Dating app users could be swiping right on a registered sex offender and not even know it.
A published report by ProPublica, Columbia Journalism Investigations and BuzzFeed shows that some dating apps like Tinder and Plenty of Fish lets known sex offenders create profiles, and they aren’t the only ones.
The apps admit they’re not doing criminal background checks. It’s a disclaimer that’s included in their terms of use agreement when users first sign up.
Natalie Copeland used to have a Tinder profile. She went on several dates before she decided to delete the app.
“I would always make sure that it was a public place, I wasn’t going to somebody’s house,” said Copeland.
While she did take precautions, it was no surprise to her to learn that some users have reported being raped by someone they met on a dating app.
“I do know friends that have been sexually assaulted on Tinder,” she said.
The platforms mentioned in the report are owned by Match Group which also owns several other free dating apps.
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The report said many of the incidents happened on the users’ first date and most victims were women.
“Typically, if they were arrested and charged recently, they can’t be on the internet,” said Action News Jax Law & Safety expert Dale Carson.
But Carson said the anonymous nature of the internet makes it difficult to track who is really creating a profile.
Local mom Angela Johnson said she worries about her daughter using the apps.
“At least there should be some kind of screening process,” said Johnson.
But Carson said it shouldn’t all fall on the apps.
“A platform really is not responsible for how that platform is used,” said Carson.
In a statement, Match Group sent to CBS News, the company called the new report "inaccurate," and added "we do not tolerate sex offenders on our site and spend millions of dollars annually to prevent, monitor and remove bad actors from our apps."
Copeland said the responsibility should be shared.
“It’s also up to the users to make sure that they get as much information as possible,” said Copeland.
Sex offender databases can be found with a quick Google search.
Here are some that you can use:
National Sex Offender Public Website
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
© 2019 Cox Media Group
