New Code of Conduct Goes in Effect for Dating App Platforms in Australia

The new dating app industry code of conduct established by the Australian government has taken effect as of October 1st, requiring dating apps to adhere to certain standards in an effort to better protect their users.

The new code requires dating apps to make “prominent and transparent” to users how to report someone or file a complaint on their platforms, according to Associated Press. The code also requires dating apps to detect potential incidents of online harm, and that the accounts of offenders are terminated.

A pervasive problem is that users who have been blocked on one platform can join another, so the reporting process is key. Communication Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement: “If there are grounds to ban a particular individual from utilizing one of those platforms, if they’re banned on one platform, they’re blocked on all platforms,” according to AP.

The Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that dating apps must also “proactively engage with law enforcement when there is an imminent threat to safety” as part of the new standard. The government has created a rating system that will be tested against these apps over the next months and made public to users, so they can assess how well an app is adhering to safety regulations on their platforms.

If a dating app falls short of compliance, a government committee can issue formal warnings or demand a plan from the company for how to address the issue. The committee also has the power to determine whether a dating app should be suspended or formally removed from the code (which takes away its status of compliance).

For now, dating apps can choose whether to comply with the code, but the eSafety Commissioner will determine whether compliance will be mandatory in 2026, according to ABC.

So far, Bumble, Match Group (which owns popular apps Tinder, Hinge and Plenty of Fish), and Grindr have all signed on, according to AP. These apps make up about 75 percent of the dating app market in Australia.

The Australian government called for the new safety standard in 2023 after the Australian Institute of Criminology found that as many as 75 percent of online daters and dating app users had experienced some type of sexual violence through these platforms since 2021.

According to ABC, Communication Minister Michelle Rowland said in a statement: "Online dating is now the most common way to meet a partner in Australia, however, the level of violence and abuse experienced by users of these platforms is deeply concerning.”

She went on to say: "Now that the code is operational, the government will be watching industry closely to ensure they take the steps needed to keep their users safe."