Tinder’s parent company has expanded background checks to more dating apps, including Match and Stir, reports CNBC.
Match Group partnered with Garbo, a nonprofit background check platform that offers access to public records, to give users access to public record information, including arrests, convictions, and sex offender registrations.
Users with a premium subscription will get four free background checks while free subscribers will get two background searches. Users will be prompted with a link to the Garbo site within the app’s chat function if it expects the users to meet in person.
The move comes after lawmakers accused Match Group of allowing sex offenders to use dating platforms.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., chairman of the House Oversight and Reform subcommittee on economic and consumer policy, in January 2020 launched a probe into whether dating platforms were allowing underage users to access them. In February 2020, 11 members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee called for Match Group to check users against sex offender registries and elaborate on its efforts to respond to sexual assault reports.
"For far too long, women and traditionally marginalized groups have faced many barriers to resources and safety," Tracey Breeden, the head of safety and social advocacy at Match Group, said in the initial announcement. "Garbo's thoughtful and innovative consumer background checks will drive the industry forward while empowering people with critical information to help inform personal safety choices."
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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