By Jake Evans, ABC political reporter
Photo: Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto
Tinder, Hinge and other online dating platforms will have six months to become compliant with a dating code of conduct designed to make the matchmaker apps safer, after years of reported failures to act on incidences of sexual assaults enabled by their platforms.
A 2022 Australian Institute of Criminology study found three in four people it surveyed had been subjected to sexual violence facilitated by dating apps in the prior five years.
From Tuesday, the online dating code will begin requiring dating apps to have systems to detect potential incidents of "online-enabled" harm and take action against users who violate a company's online safety policies.
Apps must also display prominent and transparent complaint and reporting mechanisms, and provide regular reports to the eSafety commissioner detailing the number of Australian accounts terminated and their content moderation activities.
Dating apps must also proactively engage with law enforcement, including escalating complaints when there is an imminent threat to safety.
The apps will also have a new rating system applied against them, so users can assess how they measure up against their safety obligations.
The online dating code has been in development since the beginning of last year, when the federal government convened a round table with the major online dating players to address ongoing concerns the sector was not doing enough to tackle safety issues on their platforms.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the code would be enforceable from April next year.
"Online dating is now the most common way to meet a partner in Australia, however, the level of violence and abuse experienced by users of these platforms is deeply concerning," Ms Rowland said in a statement.
"Now that the code is operational, the government will be watching industry closely to ensure they take the steps needed to keep their users safe."
If dating apps fail to comply, the eSafety commissioner will be able to issue formal warnings, order the development of a plan for a company to meet its code obligations, or issue "suspension or formal removal" from the code, which would prohibit an app from the use of any accreditation or reference to compliance with the code.
The federal government said the sector had constructively engaged in the development of the code, including investing in technology to prevent harmful behaviour and content.
The industry code remains voluntary, but the eSafety commissioner will review its effectiveness in 2026 to determine whether it should be made mandatory.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the dating code would help Australians make choices about which apps they use.
"Everyone deserves to live a life free of violence, no matter where they are - and this includes online," Rishworth said in a statement.
"We must create communities - both in the physical and online world - where everyone is treated equally and with respect."
- ABC
