Shocker! Users accused of assault can have Tinder accounts
What's the story
An 18-month investigation into Match Group, the parent company of popular dating apps Tinder and Hinge, has uncovered major safety concerns.
The probe found that people accused of serious crimes like rape or assault can continue to use these platforms.
One prominent case involved Stephen Matthews, a Denver-based cardiologist convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting women he met through these apps.
Investigative reporter Emily Elena Dugdale discussed Match Group's response to the findings on NPR's Morning Edition podcast.
Safety lapses
Inaction on reported misconduct
Despite being reported on the apps as early as 2020, Matthews was allowed to remain active until police intervention.
Alarmingly, he was even promoted as a "standout" date on Hinge after being reported, Dugdale says.
Match Group had pledged to improve safety measures and publish a transparency report detailing misconduct reports on their platforms, but this report remains unpublished five years later.
Company response
Internal struggles and safety claims by Match Group
Internal documents showed that Match Group struggled with what to disclose and what information to keep secret.
Employees raised concerns about being pressured to prioritize metrics over user safety.
In light of these findings, Match Group claimed they are industry leaders in safety, citing their use of AI tools and ID verification as evidence.
User safety
Loopholes and inadequate monitoring in the system
An experiment with The Markup showed that banned users could easily create new accounts with the same details, allowing offenders to continue using the apps without significant barriers.
Employees said thorough investigations are labor-intensive and costly, leading to outsourcing and less effective monitoring.
This indicates that while millions use dating apps safely, the platforms could do more to protect users from known threats.