A new code to make online dating safer for everyone comes into effect today.
It comes after the federal government recognised a need for a regulatory framework to help reduce the risks of online harm and violence on end-to-end user dating apps and services.
Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland says it’s part of an effort to bring regulation up to speed with fast-moving technology.
“Online dating is now the most common way to meet a partner in Australia,” she said.
“These services did not develop overnight, and the lack of action over the last decade means that regulation has not kept pace with technology.”
A number of government and external stakeholders in safety were consulted along with some of the most popular online dating services in Australia.
Law firm Norton Rose Fulbright says the Industry Working Group that led the development of the voluntary code of practice included representatives from Match, Bumble, The Meet Group, eharmony, Spark, Grindr and RSVP.
Together they produced a Code that comes into effect today.
While research shows online dating can have positive impacts in connecting people, there have been disturbing accounts of digital dating abuse. In a paper by Monash University, it says cites one Australian study which found 3 in 4 (75 per cent) people have experienced sexual violence due to using online digital dating apps.
The Code outlines a number of obligations including the requirement that online dating services including apps and websites publish a compliance rating so users know they exceed, comply with or partially comply with this code.
The Code says this rating will be done through self-assessment but that will then be verified by an oversight body.
For a dating app or site to get a Tier One rating, meaning they exceed the code, they would need to adhere to a number of obligations such as using automation under human oversight to detect potential incidents of online harm by users and to moderate content.
This would help content that meets certain criteria to be automatically blocked or removed.
Under this tier, if a user is on multiple dating services and action is taken against them for seriously violating online safety, the service provider must apply this to all of the user’s known accounts.
The Tier One rating also requires providers to offer the same online safety features for all users regardless of location or whether they pay for subscription, and to work with the broader industry and stakeholder to continuously improve systems, processes and policies.
Aside from compliance ratings, the Code sets parametres around the support online dating services must provide to people who make a complaint about sexual misconduct or a safety violation.
It also encourages apps and sites to identify high risk users who may commit a serious violation while working with law enforcement agencies when there is a serious threat to life or physical safety.
Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth says the industry must have safeguards in place to protect the wider community.
“Everyone deserves to live a life free of violence no matter where they are – and this includes online,” she said.
The Code commences today but the industry will have a transition period to allow time for changes to be implemented by those participating.