Welcome!
Online Dating Insider delivers cutting-edge insight and commentary on all aspects of the online dating industry. Topics include industry news, site reviews, emerging trends, analysis of dating site features, discussion about safety safety, finance and other issues important to the online dating market. Don't miss our Tools & Services directory, useful to anyone running dating or social networking sites. Subscribe to the RSS feed (you can subscribe via email as well). Your comments and suggestions for stories are welcomed.
IDEA OASIS has issued what I believe to be their first press release pertaining to the current industry legislation. Let me be the first to say that I don’t think is was the smartest idea to base the IDEA-OASIS anti-legislation coming-out party on the security issues of the data providers. There are several stronger arguments they could have made, but I understand the value of capitalizing on an existing groundswell of publicity for your own gain.
From the press release:
IDEA-OASIS, the Internet Dating Executive Alliance/Online Association for Social Industry Standards (www.ideaoasis.org), today announced its formal opposition to various state legislative efforts that would require personals companies to conduct background checks on all users of Internet dating and online matchmaking services. The organization also warned of security concerns surrounding the data providers that would potentially provide the proposed mandated checks.
| 0.0 |
Blog reactions
7 responses so far ↓
1
Rich Gosse (Check me out!)
// Mar 30, 2005 at 7:55 pm
There are many terrific arguments against special interest legislation mandating background checks for the online dating website. I think the best one often gets overlooked–there is no need for background check. Millions of singles are dating each month, and I haven’t read of thousands of them being raped and murdered. In fact, other than one or two horror stories a year, it would appear that online dating is about as safe as any other dating method in America. So why pick on dating websites? Nobody requires Rotary to do background checks on their members, nor any of the hundreds of thousands of other organizations and companies in America.
2
Bob (Check me out!)
// Mar 31, 2005 at 9:14 am
Rich:
This is a bad position to take. Its one thing to say that legislation is wrong - its another to say that offering the ability to do the background check is wrong. Background checks are a valuable add on service and additional revenue stream. All the tier one sites will be launching background checks in the next 30-60 days. As one claiming to represent the industry - you need to get on board.
3
Ben Chase (Check me out!)
// Mar 31, 2005 at 10:52 am
There will be some that will in fact take advantage of background checks in their dating experience, but only time will tell if this is a real “need” being filled by online dating companies, or another revenue creating mechanism that has little or no basis in what the market can and should bare. To say that all should get on board “just because” is silly and offensive. The only true answer will come from the consumer, period.
4
Jayne Hitchcock (Check me out!)
// Apr 1, 2005 at 9:15 am
IDEA-OASIS should read the legislation more carefully before protesting it. The bills in question would require the online dating web sites to post whether or not they do criminal and/or marital background checks, NOT that they have to do them.
This gives people the choice of whether to join that dating web site or not.
My organization sees too many cases of cyberstalking as it is and many have been related to negative online dating experiences, yes, including those where the other person had a criminal background that was not disclosed or were already married.
I think the bills should be passed. And I am planning to testify on behalf of them.
Giving people a choice is the right thing to do. It may save someone’s life.
5
Terra Gray (Check me out!)
// Apr 1, 2005 at 6:17 pm
Echoing what Jayne correctly pointed out, these bills are simply disclosure bills. There is no language in any bill that would require online dating services to perform background checks. The bills require disclosures as to whether an online dating company is or is not running criminal background checks on communicating members. According to InfoServ, twenty percent of online daters already believe online dating companies are taking reasonable steps to ensure their safety by not allowing known convicted felons, sex offenders, and married individuals from communicating with them. The false sense of security is the environment we live in NOW and it is good public policy to inform consumers with proper disclosures regarding anything having to do with their personal safety.
To Mr. Gosse’s point regarding “one or two horror stories a year,” I believe in the sanctity of human life and if our efforts save ONE person from being murdered, raped, robbed, or injured in any way, then our efforts are worth it!
With respect to Mr. Gosse’s point regarding industries being required to perform background checks, it is not uncommon for government entities to step in and protect its citizens from harm by requiring background checks. For instance, the in the last session of the Texas legislature, a law was enacted that requires in-home service and residential delivery companies to obtain criminal history background checks on individuals entering another person’s residence (Title 6, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 145). Again, the online dating legislation is simply disclosure legislation and we all know disclosures are a common communication method between corporations and consumers when it comes to safety including, but not limited to: the food industry, the drug industry, the tobacco industry, and the entertainment industry.
More importantly, Mr. Gosse, I am baffled by your staunch position against this legislation when your own website contains language talking of the safety concerns in the industry and encouraging background checks. In your “Truth in Online Dating” section you write:
“Most troubling, felons are concealing their criminal records. As USA Today pointed out, “with the mere click of a mouse, you can stumble across a serial killer just as easily as your soul mate.” (“Truth in Advertising Hits Internet Dating,” USA Today, 4/19/04).”
In the same section, you go on to say:
“The International Association of Dating Websites urges dating websites to offer their members the opportunity to get their photos verified and background checks performed.”
Mr. Gosse, I agree with you that there are felons trying to use online dating sites to prey on consumers looking to find love and relationships. This legislation is addressing the concerns you raise on your website as well as provide a REASONABLE solution.
I would encourage Idea Oasis, Mr. Gosse, and others in opposition to this legislation to read the language carefully and present the true facts regarding the bill. It is misleading at best to disseminate incorrect information and you owe it to companies providing these services and to consumers to provide them with the best and most accurate data.
Respectfully,
Terra Gray
Vice President of Government Affairs
True.com
6
Dave Evans (Check me out!)
// Apr 4, 2005 at 11:59 am
Background checks on pest control operators coming into your home, where you have no control over the situation has absolutely nothing to do with this conversation. Neither does the fact that USA Today points out that it’s easy to meet crazy people on the internet.
The IADW, IDEA OASIS and the industry are fine with promoting online dating safety. Not sure why you are baffled that the IADW promotes online dating safety?
Please go into more detail about the statement that a disclaimer on a web page a reasonable solution. I don’t understand the logic of that statement. Neither does anyone else in the industry. Do you really think four lines of text will prevent rape and murder from happening via a dating site?
The “sanctity of human life” statement is such a loaded statement, why bring that up here? We might as well start arguing why the auto industry doesn’t recall a car until enough people are dead as a direct result.
I agree 100% that the industry has not done a very good job articulating their position, hopefully this will be remedied in the near future.
I need to see this Infoserv study to verify a few things. Someone please email a copy or a screenshot of the page stating that that 20% of all online daters believe that background checks are already done on members.
7
UKNOWN (Check me out!)
// Apr 5, 2005 at 1:44 am
If people lie about who they are in their informtion.
Why wouldn’t they check the box not married.
Who is going to police and enforce this silly law.