Match Group Adds to Safety Policies Following Reports of Abuse

Match Group announced that it was adding new safety functions to its dating apps so that victims of assault can get responses and assistance when they report abuse. The company also said it will be meeting with Australian law enforcement officials in the coming weeks to address the problem.

Match Group moved quickly to respond to a recent investigative report from ABC (the Australian Broadcasting System) on its safety policies, exposing a problem that users of its Tinder app who reported sexual assault never received responses from the company. One victim named Beth who was interviewed by ABC said she was held at knifepoint and raped by another Tinder user she’d met over the app, and when she reported the assault, nobody contacted her about it.

Match Group says it will now respond to people who submit reports to provide contact numbers and other resources for counseling and assistance.

"If members submit a report, we respond in-app or via email, directing them to trained resources for crisis counseling and survivor support. This response was written in partnership with external safety experts in the fields of preventing sexual violence and sex trafficking, law enforcement and LGBTQ+ advocacy," Match Group said.

One of the problems the article pointed out was Tinder’s “unmatch” function, which users can choose if they wish to stop contact with another user, providing an easy way to hide and avoid accountability. Match Group maintains that they are still able to retrieve messages even if a user chooses to unmatch someone.

The company wrote a blog post in response to the report, noting that they had hired a new Head of Safety Tracey Breeden, a former police investigator of sexual assault and former Head of Women’s Safety and Gender-Based Violence Operations at Uber, to review all of the company’s policies and practices when it comes to safety. In addition, they have assembled The Match Group Advisory Council, a group of experts and advocates involved in the study and prevention of sexual assault, sex trafficking and similar issues to work with Breeden on a more comprehensive approach.

Sexual assault victims don’t think it’s enough. "They should be dedicating their time and money to investigate the people who have been reported and make sure they're not repeat offenders," Beth said in a follow-up interview with ABC. "Tinder has an extreme responsibility to be the mediator in those situations and make sure both parties are comfortable and feeling like they're heard. I don't think they prioritize the victim of assaults."

Paul Fletcher, Australian Federal Communications Minister said he’s met with Match executives and demanded changes to keep their apps safe, and to see “more practical cooperation from them” in regard to when a victim reports a crime.

Match Group said in their post: “Violence and sexual assault are complex problems that sadly continue to persist in our world. But we are committed to being a part of the solution, working with our partners in government, law enforcement, and the tech industry, and doing every bit we can to lead action on this all-important issue.”