This week Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced that leading online dating providers eHarmony, Match.com and Spark Networks (operator of such websites as JDate and ChristianMingle) have issued a joint statement of business principles that online dating providers should follow to help protect members from identity theft, financial scams and sexual predators.
The agreement reflects best practices that these three industry leaders will follow, which include continuing to regularly provide registered users with tips and tools for protection: fraud prevention guidance, financial scam warnings and how to safely meet people offline.
The websites will also screen subscriber lists for financial and physical safety threats, scanning for and removing registered sex offender and fake profiles. Additionally, members can access contact information in order to report any suspected criminal activity via rapid abuse reporting systems.
“In the interest of protecting and educating users, I strongly encourage all online dating companies to adopt the same principles as these industry leaders,” Harris said in a statement. "It is a priority for this office to ensure consumers are protected online, and companies who are creating in the Internet space have a continued opportunity to innovate and thrive.”
Harris will assign a liaison from her eCrime Unit—established last year to prosecute identity theft and other technology-related crimes—to handle reports of suspected criminal activity submitted by all online dating providers who implement the practices in the agreement.
In 2011, 40 million Americans used an online dating service and spent more than $1 billion on online dating website memberships. Greg Liberman, President and CEO of Spark Networks, said that he is honored that Harris has recognized his company’s consumer protection efforts.
“We look forward to our continuing collaboration with the Attorney General, eHarmony, and Match.com to protect the safety and privacy of online daters and encourage others in the industry to follow our examples,” he said.
