Dating Services

Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart released a report last Thursday regarding a complaint filed last year against Facebook, by the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC). The complaint is in regards to privacy and personal information about Facebooks members, in which the report found that Facebook keeps indefinitely, even after an account is closed. This and other privacy shortfalls (including third party access via Facebook Applications to users personal data) will need to be fixed or Facebook may be facing legal troubles.

Facebook released a statement which said that new privacy features are being introduce soon, to remedy any concerns people may have. In 30 days Stoddart will review any actions by Facebook. If she finds that they are not making any progress on her recommendations, then, by using Canadian federal privacy laws under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), she may take the case to the Federal Court of Canada for enforcement.

This potential case may also raise privacy red flags in other countries, which I am sure Facebook does not want.

I bet a few dating sites will also be watching this story closely to see what Facebook does and how the Privacy Commissioner reacts. Most dating sites as far as I know keep users information for a long time as well (see Story).

For more on the story read Yahoo News, and here is the report of the Canadian Privacy Commissioner's findings.

Last week, according to CNET News both Match.com and eHarmony started to use a special updated version of JaJah which allows members to place phone calls without giving away their phone number. Match.com calls this service for its members, matchTalk, which we recently looked at last month (see Story). eHarmony calls their service, Secure Call.

Both phone services from these dating sites require the person who will receive the call to approve of it first. Once approved members can initiate phone calls over the dating site that actually use your own home or cell phone, no special hardware required. No phone numbers are given out and either person can terminate the call and disallow the person from every calling back. It is the ultimate in privacy and security for first time callers.

For more information about these dating sites and their member calling phone feature, review of Match.com and our review of eHarmony.

American Capital Ltd. announced on Thursday that it has completed the sale of People Media to IAC (Match.com's parent company). American Capital received $57 million in cash proceeds and will receive an additional $15 million in the third quarter, to complete the deal. This makes the total sale worth $72 million USD. This is $8 million less than was stated when IAC announced the agreement earlier this month (see Story).

For the full story, read NW32.com.

Match.com UK has launched an interactive channel on the BT Vision IPTV service (Digital Cable). This means almost half a million BT Vision subscribers can now tune into Channel 955 and use the Match.com service to search for singles, update profiles, send winks and for viewing messages. Most of Match.com primary features are available to use through the channel. You also use the same Match.com account as you login with through the website. Not everything can be done through BT Vision though, such as uploading a photo. This can only be done by using a computer or a cell phone.

The article at New Media Age makes it look like this is a free service to cable subscribers. It is unclear at the moment if you can log in as a Match.com paid member on the interactive channel to actually send email messages to other members.

Jason Stockwood of Match.com stated:

He hoped offering the service via TV would make browsing for a potential partner a more social experience compared with the online service, which tends to be done alone.

This is an interesting idea, to make online dating a more social activity. Would you want your friends and/or family to help you favorite and send winks to other singles on a dating site? I think searching for prospects would be fun but, personally I would still want to communicate without someone looking over my shoulder.

To find out more information about this United Kingdom dating site, read our review of Match.com.

This weekend it is Chemistry's fourth free communication promotion. All Chemistry members will be able to use the site for free starting Friday July 17th, 2009 until the end of Sunday July 19, 2009.

For those of you who haven't heard of Chemistry before. They are a dating site which performs the matchmaking for you. You fill out the detailed profile (about 30 minutes) and based on your answers Chemistry will send you your best matches that are not only compatible with your personality and lifestyle, but also fit within your own preferences as well.

The last Chemistry.com Flirtathon happened in the middle of May, two months ago (see Story). For more information on this matchmaking service, read our review of Chemistry.

Match.com and Premier Match helped assemble 8 single women for Good Morning America. They were asked for their opinions on dating in a recession and what they do, and do not look for in a man.

These woman consider one or more of the following factors important about a man:

• The type of job he has and if he is employed.
• If he has ambition and is a leader. He also must be supportive (not necessarily financially).
• If the man pays for the first date, especially if he initiated the date.
• Chivalry.
• Enjoys life and work.

Match.com actually found in a recent survey they did that 71% of members would still date a person if they had lost their job. Over 2,700 male and female members participated in this survey. The Match.com survey did not consider gender so it is not clear if more men than woman would do this. With the Good Morning America panel of single woman, it seemed with almost all of them, being on a date with a unemployed man was not an option.

In terms of first dates, most of the woman were looking for something not formal. Going out for drinks was mentioned several times, with dinner as an option if the early part of the evening had gone well. Being creative on a first date was also a good thing. Out of the 8 woman, 7 expected the man to pay for the first date.

For the full Good Morning America video clip and to find out more on what these thirty and forty something woman are looking for in a man, visit ABC News. For more information on Match.com, read our review of the dating site.