Unexpected Assault on Dating Apps: Match Group's Negligence Exposed

A recent investigative report by The Markup and the Pulitzer Center’s AI Accountability Network has exposed Match Group's negligence in handling sexual assault complaints on its dating apps, including Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid. The report reveals that Match Group fails to properly ban users who have been reported for sexual assault, allowing them to remain on the platform and potentially harm others.

The case of Stephen Matthews serves as a stark example of this negligence.  Despite multiple reports on Hinge alleging that Matthews had committed sexual assault, his account remained active, even being featured as a "Standout" profile. He was later sentenced to 158 years in prison for drugging and sexually assaulting 11 women.

This incident highlights Match Group's apparent disregard for user safety. According to internal company documents, Match Group has been aware of users accused of sexual assault, drugging, and battery since at least 2016.  However, they have failed to take adequate action.

Furthermore, Match Group lacks a robust system for banning offenders. Researchers found that banned users can easily create new accounts and rejoin the platforms, often without even changing their name, birthday, or profile photos.  The report states that researchers were able to create new accounts with minimal effort.

Over the past few years, Match Group has faced pressure to cut costs due to declining stock prices.  The report suggests that this pressure has led to a decline in investment in user safety measures. Internal documents indicate that the company has resisted efforts to improve investigative measures and safety protocols.

While Tinder partnered with the non-profit Garbo for background checks in 2022, this partnership was short-lived, ending the following year.

In a statement, Match Group claims, "We recognize our role in fostering safe communities and promoting genuine, respectful connections globally." They added, "We are constantly working to invest in and improve our systems, and we will continue to look for ways to help keep our users safe, both online and while connecting in real life."

The company also stated, "We take every report of misconduct seriously, and we vigilantly remove and ban accounts that violate our rules regarding this behavior."

However, this report clearly demonstrates Match Group's negligence.  With the rise of sexual assault on dating apps, Match Group must take immediate and decisive action to prioritize user safety and prevent further harm.