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Match.com

Posted By Madeline Hanna Robles
Tue, Apr 1 2014 at 4:41 PM

 

In 2011, the LA times reported an incident of a women being sexually assaulted after meeting a man she met on Match.com. She describes the incident as having taken place on the second date when the man followed her home and forced himself on her. What I noticed about this is how the representatives of Match.com responded. They took no responsibility and merely stated that the screening process of every member is out of their hands. The daters should take it upon themselves to do a background check of everyone they plan to meet. They also stated that there is a list of safety tips on the site to prevent this sort of thing from happening. After the victim had looked at her offender's history online, she found out he was charged with several assaults. While I understand Match.com’s argument that everyone is responsible for checking on the people they plan to meet, I can’t help but think their response to this was cold and unhelpful. I also understand that there are thousands on Match.com, how is it possible to screen everyone of them? I sincerely think that in the new age of technology this should not be difficult. Gaining membership should require more identification and perhaps an online sexual harassment/safety tip tab should be more than just a small feature on the site. Major changes need to ensue for online dating because the internet can act as a gateway to real physical harm.  

 

Additionally, In response to my last post I have not received any tweets from any of the feminist tweeters. I will discuss further questions in the next post.

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 DISCUSSION
#1 POSTED BY Andres Govea, 04/01 8:40 PM

I think this post really tells of how the laws have not caught up to the online world. Do you think that online dating sites should have background checks? As well, should those who have strikes against them for domestic violence should they be allowed to participate? I believe Match.com and other online dating sites should take more of an active roll with their members who join the site. It would be interesting for future online dating sites to have a registered sex offenders who use the site. 

#2 POSTED BY Tale Catherine Burge Oyehaug, 04/02 5:10 PM

This is a tricky case. As you say, on the one side, yes, one should always do a background check of the person before meeting him/her, but should it be legal for people charged for earlier assaults to be registered on a dating site? At the same time, how can a website as big as Match.com control every user's background? Great points! 

#3 POSTED BY Dominique Brielle Fluker, 04/02 8:59 PM

There has always been so much controversy surrounding online dating and relationships. I wonder if people view them as authentic or contrived. The issue you raised with the sexual abuse reports shows that these online sites should be closely monitored, but how? The implications of public vs. privacy rears it's head once again...

#4 POSTED BY Hannah Heffernan Johnson, 04/02 11:36 PM

Of course I have my own opinions about the issue, but to play devils advocate, if we were to screen people using this site, or others like it, how would it be decided which sites need a screening process to be used an which do not? I can think of very few sites online that do not provide at least some means of connecting with others or contacting the organization, so should a screening process be required on dating sites just because of the likelihood of people using that site to meet up in person? How much of a responsibility is it for a company to protect its clients online? I agree with Andres that the law hasn't really caught up with the technology yet on this issue unfortunately. Great post!

#5 POSTED BY Matthew Graham Silver, 04/03 12:01 AM

I agree that their reaction was unprofessionally cold, but as a corporate endeavor, I can see why they wouldn't want to acknowledge fault. I agree that it is up to the user to make informed decisions regarding screening and safety, the website could easily absolve themselves of responsibility by including a waiver in the process of signing up for their services. I feel that background checks on dating websites could easily provoke arguments of privacy invasion, but I'm curious as to actual legal ramifications of "dating site horror-stories" and the responses that other dating websites have taken. If you could obtain more information on that and compare which websites have taken more proactive steps to protect female cliental would be interesting. I happen to know that Ok!Cupid made it possible for homosexual women prevent their accounts from begin viewable by heterosexual men due to harassment. I hope that information is helpful for you, I'm interested to hear what further developments you find about this issue.

#6 POSTED BY Rachel Michelle Glicksberg, 04/03 2:13 PM

I think this is a really important topic to be brought up. Unfortunately, I think this incident is more common than we think. Although, it is I think ultimately up to the individual to make choices, I agree with you than in this day and age companies should do background checks before letting people join the site.

#7 POSTED BY Madeline Hanna Robles, 04/17 11:33 AM

If dating sites did have background checks, that would NOT be an invasion of privacy. It is common knowledge that criminal files AND people on the sex offenders list are open to the public! This is done so employers and the entire public can be safe, and know who they're dealing with. So if dating sites just implemented an automated criminal record/background checking system, that would be perfectly within the law. Am i right in saying that?

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